Abstract: Esters and lactones can be respectively reduced to alcohols and diols in the presence of the Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex, base and hydrogen gas (H2). An extremely practical reduction method can be provided by preferable combinations of the Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex, the base, a used amount of the base, a pressure of hydrogen gas and a reaction temperature. This method is used in place of hydride reduction and is a useful method by which design of highly active catalysts can be relatively easily made while a high productivity can be expected.

Abstract: Esters and lactones can be respectively reduced to alcohols and diols in the presence of the Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex, base and hydrogen gas (H2). An extremely practical reduction method can be provided by preferable combinations of the Group 8 (VIII) transition metal complex, the base, a used amount of the base, a pressure of hydrogen gas and a reaction temperature. This method is used in place of hydride reduction and is a useful method by which design of highly active catalysts can be relatively easily made while a high productivity can be expected.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active nitro compounds and cyano compounds using a metal complex, which is obtained by reaction of an optically active nitrogen-containing compound and a periodic table group VIII metal complex, in the asymmetric Michael reaction.

Abstract: A highly efficient process is provided for producing an optically active compound having high optical purity by an asymmetric reaction using as a catalyst a transition metal complex having an optically active nitrogen-containing compound as an asymmetric ligand.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active nitro compounds and cyano compounds represented by the chemical formula (C) using a metal complex, which is obtained by reaction of an optically active nitrogen-containing compound and a periodic table group VIII metal complex, in the asymmetric Michael reaction of a compound represented by the chemical formula (A) and a compound represented by the chemical formula (B) according to the claim 1.

Abstract: A method for producing optically active compounds is disclosed. The method is highly practical for producing optically active compounds useful for various utilities such as intermediates for synthesizing pharmaceutical agents, liquid crystal materials and agents for optical resolution.

Abstract: A process of preparing an optically active halohydrin compound characterized by comprising asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction of an ?-haloketone compound in the presence of a group 9 transition metal compound having a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl group and an optically active diamine compound. The asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction is preferably conducted in the presence of a base.

Abstract: The invention provides novel ruthenium complexes having an optically active diphosphine compound, which has asymmetry on carbon and is easy to synthesize, as the ligand and a process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds using said complexes as the catalysts, wherein said process is the process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds, which are excellent in terms of reactivity, enatioselectivity and the like in an asymmetric hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds compared with conventional ruthenium complex catalysts having an optically active diphosphine compound having the axial chirality or the asymmetry on carbon as the ligand.

Abstract: A highly efficient process is provided for producing an optically active compound having high optical purity by an asymmetric reaction using as a catalyst a transition metal complex having an optically active nitrogen-containing compound as an asymmetric ligand.

Abstract: A process of preparing an optically active halohydrin compound characterized by comprising asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction of an &agr;-haloketone compound in the presence of a group 9 transition metal compound having a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl group and an optically active diamine compound. The asymmetric hydrogen transfer reduction is preferably conducted in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active amino alcohol is provided that includes a step in which a nitro ketone or a cyano ketone is reacted with a hydrogen-donating organic or inorganic compound in the presence of a transition metal compound catalyst having an optically active nitrogen-containing compound as an asymmetric ligand to give an optically active nitro alcohol or an optically active cyano alcohol, and a step in which the above optically active alcohol is further reduced to efficiently produce an optically active amino alcohol.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active amino alcohol is provided that includes a step in which a nitro ketone or a cyano ketone is reacted with a hydrogen-donating organic or inorganic compound in the presence of a transition metal compound catalyst having an optically active nitrogen-containing compound as an asymmetric ligand to give an optically active nitro alcohol or an optically active cyano alcohol, and a step in which the above optically active alcohol is further reduced to efficiently produce an optically active amino alcohol.

Abstract: The invention provides novel ruthenium complexes having an optically active diphosphine compound, which has asymmetry on carbon and is easy to synthesize, as the ligand and a process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds using said complexes as the catalysts, wherein said process is the process for preparing optically active alcoholic compounds, which are excellent in terms of reactivity, enatioselectivity and the like in an asymmetric hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds compared with conventional ruthenium complex catalysts having an optically active diphosphine compound having the axial chirality or the asymmetry on carbon as the ligand.

Abstract: Alcohols are produced in a practical and advantageous method, by the hydrogenation of a carbonyl compound under mild conditions, by reacting the carbonyl compounds with hydrogen in the presence of a bipyridyl derivative, a group VIII transition metal complex, and a base, or by reducing a carbonyl compound in the presence of a bipyridyl derivative, a group VIII transition metal complex, a base, and an alcoholic solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a metal complex comprising a ligand and a metal. The ligand is an aminophosphine compound represented by the following formula (1) The metal is rhodium, ruthenium, iridium or nickel.

Abstract: This document describes a novel and practically excellent process for the preparation of optically active compounds, such as optically active alcohols or amines which are useful for various applications, for example, as synthetic intermediates of pharmaceuticals, liquid crystal materials, and reagents for optical resolution, wherein a hydrogen transfer type asymmetric reduction is carried out in the presence of both a transition metal complex and an optically active nitrogen compound or a transition metal complex having an optically active nitrogen compounds as an asymmetric ligand, and a hydrogen-donating organic or inorganic compound.

Abstract: Formic acid or derivatives thereof are produced from non-toxic carbon dioxide in the supercritical state, using it as raw materials, without using solvents, and at a high efficiency owing to a high reaction velocity, by reacting said carbon dioxide and an active hydrogen group-containing compound.

Abstract: A process whereby 4-t-butylcyclohexanol with a high content of the cis-isomer, which is useful as a perfume ingredient, can be economically produced on an industrially available scale at a low cost. The process comprises hydrogenating 4-t-butylcyclohexanone by using a specific ruthenium-phosphine complex as a catalyst in the presence of a base containing an alkali metal and an alkylenediamine having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel ruthenium-phosphine complex useful as a catalyst for asymmetric hydrogenation is disclosed, which is represented by formula (I):{RuCl(R-BINAP)}{Ru(EtNH.sub.2)(R-BINAP)}(.mu.-Cl).sub.3 (I)wherein Et stands for an ethyl group; and R-BINAP represents a tertiary phosphine represented by formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Abstract: Formic acid or derivatives thereof are produced from non-toxic carbon dioxide in the supercritical state, using it as raw materials, without using solvents, and at a high efficiency owing to a high reaction velocity, by reacting said carbon dioxide and an active hydrogen group-containing compound.