A FACILE METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF THE OPTICALLY PURE 3-HYDROXYTETRADECANOIC ACID BY AN APPLICATION OF ASYMMETRICALLY MODIFIED NICKEL CATALYST

Abstract

Abstract The enantioface-differentiating hydrogenation of methyl 3-oxotetradecanoate over (R,R)-tartaric acid-NaBr-modified nickel gave methyl (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoate(III) in 85% e.e.. After HI was converted to dicyclohexylammonium salt of 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid (I), the salt was recrystallized three times from acetonitrile and was then treated with acid to give optically pure (R)-I in a good yield.