Asymmetric Synthesis of Naproxen by a New Heterogeneous Catalyst

Article abstract of DOI:10.1006/jcat.1995.1056

A new heterogeneous, asymmetric catalyst is described.The catalyst is a modified version of the supported aqueous-phase catalyst reported previously (Wan and Davis, J.Catal. 148,1(1994)); ethylene glycol is used in place of water as the hydrophilic phase.Both the enantioselectivity and the activity of this new heterogeneous catalyst are comparable to the homogeneous analogue in neat methanol (or ethylene glycol); e.e.'s are 95.7percent vs 96.1percent and t.o.f.'s are 40.7 hr^-1 vs 131.0 hr^-1, respectively.Recycling of the catalyst is possible without leaching of ruthenium at a detection limit of 32 ppb.