Abstract: An optically active lactone compound is produced by using a complex in which Pd or Pt is a central metal and a compound having a specified structure is a ligand as a catalyst, and subjecting a cyclic ketone compound to a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation with a specified oxidizer.

Abstract: An optically active aziridine compound or amine compound is produced by using a specified Ru(salen)(CO) complex as a catalyst, and subjecting a specified olefin to an asymmetric aziridination or amination with a specified arylsulfonyl azide compound.

Abstract: An optically active lactone compound is produced by using a Zr(salen) complex of the following formula (I) or its enantiomer as a catalyst and subjecting a cyclic ketone compound to a Baeyer-Villiger reaction with at least one oxidizer selected from hydrogen peroxide, aqueous hydrogen peroxide and urea-hydrogen peroxide adduct in a solvent: wherein Ar1 is an aryl group having a carbon number of 10 to 16 and Y is a phenoxy group or an alkoxy group having a carbon number of 1 to 10.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the enantioselective production of an optically active amino compound by the amination of the C—H bond of an organic compound. The amino compound is produced by converting the C—H bond at the allyl position of an alkene or the C—H bond at the benzyl position of an alkylarene to the corresponding C—N bond, using a salen-manganese complex as the catalyst and N-substituted iminoaryliodinane as the amination agent. Both the catalytic activity and the enantioselectivity are very high when there is used a catalyst in which the 3- and 5-positions of the salicylaldehyde moiety of the salen ligand are substituted with an electron-withdrawing group, particularly with a halogen atom.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active lactone compound by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of a cyclic ketone compound with at least one kind of oxidants selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and urine-hydrogen peroxide adduct (UHP) using a cobalt(salen) complex having a cis-&bgr; structure expressed by the following formula (I) or (II) as a catalyst. in which X and Y independently denote H, a t-butyl group or an electron-withdrawing substituting group and W is a halogen element. in which X and Y independently denote H, a t-butyl group or an electron-withdrawing substituting group and Z− is a monovalent anion. The optically active lactone compounds can be used for the synthesis of medicines and argochemicals.

Abstract: An optically active lactone compound is produced by using a Zr(salen) complex of the following formula (I) or its enantiomer as a catalyst and subjecting a cyclic ketone compound to a Baeyer-Villiger reaction with at least one oxidizer selected from hydrogen peroxide, aqueous hydrogen peroxide and urea-hydrogen peroxide adduct in a solvent: 1

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the enantioselective production of an optically active amino compound by the amination of the C—H bond of an organic compound. The amino compound is produced by converting the C—H bond at the allyl position of an alkene or the C—H bond at the benzyl position of an alkylarene to the corresponding C—N bond, using a salen-manganese complex as the catalyst and N-substituted iminoaryliodinane as the amination agent. Both the catalytic activity and the enantioselectivity are very high when there is used a catalyst in which the 3- and 5-positions of the salicylaldehyde moiety of the salen ligand are substituted with an electron-withdrawing group, particularly with a halogen atom.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active lactone compound by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of a cyclic ketone compound with at least one kind of oxidants selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and urine-hydrogen peroxide adduct (UHP) using a cobalt(salen) complex having a cis-&bgr; structure expressed by the following formula (I) or (II) as a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active benzopyran compound of the formula [I] or [II]: ##STR1## in which an olefin compound of the formula [V] or [VI]: ##STR2## is subjected to asymmetric epoxidation reaction, using, as a catalyst, an optically active manganese complex of the formula [III] or [IV]: ##STR3##

Abstract: An optically active manganese complex of the formula I.sub.a, I.sub.b, I.sub.c and I.sub.d ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent hydrogen atom, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkyl group, phenyl group which may be substituted by a halogen atom, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkyl group, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkoxyl group, cyano group or nitro group; and any two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together form a C.sub.4 -.sub.8 ring, X.sup.- represents a counter anion which may form a salt, Y represents hydrogen atom, halogen atom, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkyl group, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkoxyl group, nitro group or cyano group, R represents hydrogen atom, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkyl group, phenyl group which may be substituted by halogen atom, C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkyl group or C.sub.1 -.sub.4 alkoxyl group, or substituted silyl group and a process for producing epoxy compounds using the complex as a catalyst.

Abstract: An optically active manganese complex of the formula I or I': ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 independently represent hydrogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, phenyl group which may be substituted by a halogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxyl group, cyano group or nitro group; and any two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together form the C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 ring, X.sup.- represents a counter anion which may form a salt, Y represents hydrogen atom, halogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxyl group, nitro group or cyano group, R represents hydrogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, phenyl group which may be substituted by halogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxyl group, or substituted silyl group and a process for producing epoxy compounds using the complex as a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active benzopyran compound of the formula [I] or [II]: ##STR1## in which an olefin compound of the formula [V] or [VI]: ##STR2## is subjected to asymmetric epoxidation reaction, using, as a catalyst, an optically active manganese complex of the formula [III] or [IV]: ##STR3##

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for asymmetrically donating an oxygen atom to a pair of electrons to produce an asymmetric product. Specifically, a metal alkoxide is used as a catalyst, where the metal has a coordination number of at least four, and at least one, usually two, of the alkoxide groups bonded to the metal are bonded to asymmetric carbon atoms. The metal catalyst is employed in conjunction with a hydroperoxide and an alkanol having a functionality with a pair of electrons capable of accepting an oxygen atom. The resulting product is enriched in one enantiomer due to the enantioselective introduction of an asymmetric center or an enhanced rate of reaction of one of the enantiomers of a chiral alkanol.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for asymmetrically donating an oxygen atom to a pair of electrons to produce an asymmetric product. Specifically, a metal alkoxide is used as a catalyst, where the metal has a coordination number of at least four, and at least one, usually two, of the alkoxide groups bonded to the metal are bonded to asymmetric carbon atoms. The metal catalyst is employed in conjunction with a hydroperoxide and an alkanol having a functionality with a pair of electrons capable of accepting an oxygen atom. The resulting product is enriched in one enantiomer due to the enantioselective introduction of an asymmetric center or an enhanced rate of reaction of one of the enantiomers of a chiral alkanol.