Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of phosphine-aminophosphines that are useful in the formation of catalysts useful in carrying out a wide variety of reactions such as asymmetric hydrogenations, asymmetric reductions, asymmetric hydroborations, asymmetric olefin isomerizations, asymmetric hydrosilations, asymmetric allylations, asymmetric conjugate additions, and asymmetric organometallic additions. The process comprises the steps of (1) contacting a compound of formula 2 R2P—L—NHR3??2 with phosphorus trihalide PX3 in the presence of an inert, organic solvent and an acid acceptor to produce intermediate compound having formula 3 (2) contacting intermediate compound 3 with a reactant having the formula R1—M1, R2—M1 or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel phosphine-phosphoramidite compounds which may be employed in combination with a catalytically-active metal to effect a wide variety of reactions such as asymmetric hydrogenations, asymmetric reductions, asymmetric hydroborations, asymmetric olefin isomerizations, asymmetric hydrosilations, asymmetric allylations, asymmetric conjugate additions, and asymmetric organometallic additions. Also disclosed are a process for the preparation of the phosphine-phosphoramidite compounds, metal complex compounds comprising at least one of the phosphine-phosphoramidite compounds and a catalytically-active metal and hydrogenation processes utilizing the metal complex compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly enantiomerically pure lactam-substituted propanoic acid derivatives and methods of making and using therefor. The invention involves a multi-step synthesis to produce the lactam compounds. In one step of the reaction sequence, asymmetric hydrogenation of a lactam-enamide was performed to produce an intermediate that can ultimately be converted to a series of pharmaceutical compounds. The invention also contemplates the in situ synthesis of an intermediate of the multi-step synthesis, which provides economic advantages to the overall synthesis of the lactam compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is a re-usable and stable supported catalyst comprising a support, an anchoring agent, and a metal complex of a substantially enantiomerically pure phosphine-aminophosphine ligand. The resulting catalyst is useful for asymmetric catalytic reactions, such as asymmetric hydrogenation reactions. Also included are methods for preparing the supported catalyst and its use for asymmetric reactions.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acid, and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly enantiomerically pure lactam-substituted propanoic acid derivatives and methods of making and using therefor. The invention involves a multi-step synthesis to produce the lactam compounds. In one step of the reaction sequence, asymmetric hydrogenation of a lactam-enamide was performed to produce an intermediate that can ultimately be converted to a series of pharmaceutical compounds. The invention also contemplates the in situ synthesis of an intermediate of the multi-step synthesis, which provides economic advantages to the overall synthesis of the lactam compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly enantiomerically pure lactam-substituted propanoic acid derivatives and methods of making and using therefor. The invention involves a multi-step synthesis to produce the lactam compounds. In one step of the reaction sequence, asymmetric hydrogenation of a lactam-enamide was performed to produce an intermediate that can ultimately be converted to a series of pharmaceutical compounds. The invention also contemplates the in situ synthesis of an intermediate of the multi-step synthesis, which provides economic advantages to the overall synthesis of the lactam compounds.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acids and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly enantiomerically pure lactam-substituted propanoic acid derivatives and methods of making and using therefor. The invention involves a multi-step synthesis to produce the lactam compounds. In one step of the reaction sequence, asymmetric hydrogenation of a lactam-enamide was performed to produce an intermediate that can ultimately be converted to a series of pharmaceutical compounds. The invention also contemplates the in situ synthesis of an intermediate of the multi-step synthesis, which provides economic advantages to the overall synthesis of the lactam compounds.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acid, and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acids and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the preparation of enantiomerically-enriched cyclopropylalanine derivatives by the hydrogenation of certain enamides in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal and a substantially enantiomerically-pure bis-phosphine catalyst and certain novel enamide ester compounds which are intermediates in the processes. The processes include novel 2-step and 3-step processes for the preparation of enantiomerically-enriched cyclopropylalanine derivatives. The two-step process comprises the steps of reacting cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde with a substituted phosphorylglycine to afford an enamide ester which then is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal and a substantially enantiomerically-pure bis-phosphine catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel phosphinometallocenylamides that are useful as ligands for asymmetric catalysis. The novel ligands, which are readily modifiable, contain both a phosphine and an amide functionality linked by a metallocene backbone. In addition, the novel compounds are phosphine-amides derived from a phosphine-amine, rather than a phosphine-carboxylic acid. Further, described herein are both processes to make the novel ligands as well as processes that employ such ligands in a catalytically active composition comprising one or more phosphinometallocenylamide compounds in complex association with one or more Group VIb or Group VIII metals to provide chiral products. Further, we describe exemplary catalyst complexes incorporating the novel ligands.

Abstract: Poly(3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionates) (I) which are useful for the preparation of vinylcyclopropane and cyclopropylacetylene are disclosed. Methods for the preparation of a variety of intermediates obtained from (I) such as 3-cyclopropyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid and esters and salts thereof, 3-cyclopropylacrylic acid, and vinylcyclopropane also are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are substantially enantiomerically pure bis-phosphine compounds comprising a substantially enantiomerically pure chiral backbone linking two phosphine residues wherein one of the phosphine residues has three phosphorus-carbon bonds and the other phosphine residue has two phosphorus-carbon bonds and one phosphorus-nitrogen bond wherein the nitrogen is part of the chiral backbone. The compounds, which have exhibited surprising air stability, are useful as ligands for metal catalysts for asymmetric reactions and have demonstrated excellent results, in particular as rhodium complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide, itaconate, and &agr;-ketoester compounds. Also disclosed are novel processes for the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds and novel intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 4-step process for the preparation of alkyl esters of 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid which comprises the steps of (1) converting &ggr;-butyrolactone to &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone; (2) converting the &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone from step (1) to an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; (3) producing a xylene solution of the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; and (4) contacting the xylene solution of an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate from step (3) with an alkali metal alkoxide under conditions of temperature and pressure which causes vaporization of (i) an alkanol as it is formed and (ii) an alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate as it is formed from the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate. Also disclosed are processes whereby the alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate, prepared as described above, is converted to 1-methylcyclopropylamine.

Abstract: Disclosed are substantially enantiomerically pure bis-phosphine compounds comprising a substantially enantiomerically pure chiral backbone linking two phosphine residues wherein one of the phosphine residues has three phosphorus-carbon bonds and the other phosphine residue has two phosphorus-carbon bonds and one phosphorus-nitrogen bond wherein the nitrogen is part of the chiral backbone. The compounds, which have exhibited surprising air stability, are useful as ligands for metal catalysts for asymmetric reactions and have demonstrated excellent results, in particular as rhodium complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide, itaconate, and &agr;-ketoester compounds. Also disclosed are novel processes for the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds and novel intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the preparation of enantiomerically-enriched cyclopropylalanine derivatives by the hydrogenation of certain enamides in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal and a substantially enantiomerically-pure bis-phosphine catalyst and certain novel enamide ester compounds which are intermediates in the processes. The processes include novel 2-step and 3-step processes for the preparation of enantiomerically-enriched cyclopropylalanine derivatives. The two-step process comprises the steps of reacting cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde with a substituted phosphorylglycine to afford an enamide ester which then is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal and a substantially enantiomerically-pure bis-phosphine catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly enantiomerically pure lactam-substituted propanoic acid derivatives and methods of making and using therefor. The invention involves a multi-step synthesis to produce the lactam compounds. In one step of the reaction sequence, asymmetric hydrogenation of a lactam-enamide was performed to produce an intermediate that can ultimately be converted to a series of pharmaceutical compounds. The invention also contemplates the in situ synthesis of an intermediate of the multi-step synthesis, which provides economic advantages to the overall synthesis of the lactam compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 4-step process for the preparation of alkyl esters of 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid which comprises the steps of (1) converting &ggr;-butyrolactone to &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone; (2) converting the &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone from step (1) to an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; (3) producing a xylene solution of the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; and (4) contacting the xylene solution of an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate from step (3) with an alkali metal alkoxide under conditions of temperature and pressure which causes vaporization of (i) an alkanol as it is formed and (ii) an alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate as it is formed from the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate. Also disclosed are processes whereby the alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate, prepared as described above, is converted to 1-methylcyclopropylamine.