The Enantioface-differentiating Hydrogenation of the C=O Double Bond with Asymmetrically Modified Raney Nickel.XXXIII.The Preparation of (R)-and (S)-1,3-Butanediol from 4-Hydroxy-2-butanone

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.53.1356

The enantioface-differentianing hydrogenation of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone (I) to 1,3-butanediol (II) was conduced with asymmetrically modified metal catalysts.Among the modified catalysts examined, Raney nickel modified with a solution containing tartaric acid and NaBr (TA-NaBr-MRNi) gave the best results with respect to the optical and chemical yields. (R)-II, an optical purity of 69 percent was obtained in a quantitative chemical yeld by the use of (R,R)-TA-NaBr-MRNi. (S)-II was also obtained by the use of (S,S)-TA-NaBr-MRNi.A simple method for the preparation of optically pure (S)- and (R)-II from the hydrogenation product was also developed.