Title of Invention	PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE AMINOPHOSPHINYLBUTANOIC ACID
Abstract	A process for producing an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid represented by the general formula (2), comprising the step for conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation of a compound represented by the general formula (1) in the presence of a ruthenium-(optically active phosphine) complex. (1) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. (2) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and "*" means that a carbon having this symbol is an asymmetric carbon atom. The process enables to produce a compound useful as a herbicide such as L-AHPB, at good efficiency and at high asymmetric yield.

Title of Invention

PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE AMINOPHOSPHINYLBUTANOIC ACID

Abstract

A process for producing an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid represented by the general formula (2), comprising the step for conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation of a compound represented by the general formula (1) in the presence of a ruthenium-(optically active phosphine) complex. (1) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. (2) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and "*" means that a carbon having this symbol is an asymmetric carbon atom. The process enables to produce a compound useful as a herbicide such as L-AHPB, at good efficiency and at high asymmetric yield.

Full Text	SPECIFICATION PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE AMINOPHOSPHINYLBUTANOIC ACIDS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a process for the production of optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids that are important as an intermediate of a compound useful in a herbicide such as L-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid (hereinafter, abbreviated as L-AHPB). BACKGROUND ART DL-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid (hereinafter, abbreviated as DL-AHPB) is a known compound having a herbicidal activity and used as an effective herbicide having a wide spectrum (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. Sho52-139727) . However, the herbicidal activity of DL-AHPB is about a half of that of L-AHPB, and it has been clear that a main substance of the herbicidal activity is L-AHPB (JP-A No. Sho55-000025 and JP-A No. Sho59-219297). Because of this, development of a process for producing L-AHPB selectively and effectively has been strongly desired. Conventionally, as for the process for the production of L-AHPB, processes such as (a) a process with using a microorganism and an enzyme and (b) an asymmetric synthesis method are known. As for examples of the process of (a), a process for producing L-AHPB from 4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-oxobutanoic acid by using a transamination enzyme (Japanese Patent Application National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2003-528572) and a process for producing L-AHPB from N-acetyl-DL-AHPB by using an enzymatic racemate resolution (Japanese Patent Application National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2003-505031) are disclosed. However, there are problems in both of these processes being needed to carry out a reaction at a low substrate concentration, post treatment and purification steps are complicated, an expensive optically active amino acid has to be used at an equivalent mol or more in the transamination reaction, etc. As for examples of the asymmetric synthesis of (b), a process for synthesizing L-AHPB by alkylation of (R)-3-isopropyl-2,5-dialkoxy-3,6-dihydropyrazine (JP-A No. Sho62-132891 and Tetrahedron Lett., 1255 (1987)) and a method of converting L-vinylglycine stereospecifically to L-AHPB (Tetrahedron, 8263 (1992)) are disclosed. However, it is necessary to use an expensive optically active amino acid such as D-valine and L-vinylglycine as a starting raw material, and there is a problem in the point of providing a raw material with low cost and in a large amount. Furthermore, an example of the asymmetric synthesis including a process for producing L-AHPB by an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of 2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid (JP-A No. Sho62-226993 and J. Org. Chem. , 56, 1783 (1991)) is disclosed. In this process, the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction is performed using a rhodium catalyst having an optically active diphenylphosphine compound as a ligand. However, the rhodium catalyst is very expensive and catalytic efficiency is not high. On the other hand, the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction using a rhodium catalyst from dehydroamino acid to amino acid has already been well known in general (Chem. Rev. , 103, 3029-3070 (2003)). However, many of the reactions are an asymmetric reduction reaction to dehydroamino acid having an alkyl group and an aryl group in a side chain, and there are few examples of a reaction using dehydroamino acid having a substituent with high polarity in a side chain. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION The objective of the present invention is to provide a process for the production of an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid, that is important as an intermediate of a compound that is useful in a herbicide such as L-AHPB, with good efficiency and high enantioselectivity with using a catalytic asymmetric synthesis reaction. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS The present inventors performed an investigation of an asymmetric catalyst in an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of 2-acylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid. As a result of the investigation, the present inventors found that L-2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid, which is an important intermediate of L-AHPB, can be obtained with good efficiency and high asymmetric yield when a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is used, and completed the present invention. The present invention is as follows. (1) A process for producing optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula (2) (in the formula (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) , R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s); and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom), in which a compound represented by the formula (1) (in the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s)) is asymmetrically hydrogenated in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. (2) The process according to the above (1), in which an optically active phosphine compound constituting the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is an optically active substance of phosphine represented by the formula (3) (in the formula (3), each of R5, R6, R7, and R8 independently represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl group, or a cyclohexyl group) or the formula (4) (in the formula (4), each of R9, R10, R11, and R12 independently represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl group, or a cyclohexyl group; R13, R14, R16, and R17 independently represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group, and R1S and R18 represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group; a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in two of R13, R14, and R15 and a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in two of R16, R17, and R18; and further, a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in R15 and R18). (3) The process according to the above (2), in which the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is a complex represented by the following formula (5) (RuaWbXcLd)eYfZg (5) (in the formula (5), L represents the optically active substance of phosphine represented by the formula (3) or (4) as in the above (2); X represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I); and further, combinations of values represented by a, b, c, d, e, f, and g and substances represented by W, Y, and Z are any of the combinations listed in i) to vi)): i) a=2, b=0, c=4, d=2, e=l, f=l, g=0, and Y represents N(CH2CH3)3; ii) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=l, e=l, f=l, g=0, W represents benzene, p-cymene, or mesitylene, and Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I); iii) a=l, b=0, c=l, d=l, e=2, f=3, g=l, Y represents (jx-Cl), (fi-Br), or (\i-I), and Z represents (CH3)2NH2 or ( CH3CH2) 2NH2; iv) a=l, b=2, c=0, d=l, e=l, f=0, g=0, and W represents CH3C02 or CF3C02; v) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=2, e=l, f=0, g=0, W represents hydrogen (H); vi) a=3, b=0, c=5, d=3, e=l, f=l, g=0, Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I). EFFECT OF THE INVENTION With the process for the production according to the present invention, an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid that is important as an intermediate of a compound that is useful in a herbicide such as L-AHPB can be produced with good efficiency and high optical purity. THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is a process for producing an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula (2) (in the formula (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s); and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom). In the process for the production according to the present invention, the optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid represented by the above formula (2) is obtained by asymmetric hydrogenation a compound represented by the formula (1) (in the formula (1), Rx represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s)) in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. The groups represented by R1, R2, R3, and R4 in the compound represented by the formula (1) used in the present invention and the optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula (2) produced by the present invention are explained. Specific examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) in R1, R2, R3, and R4 include methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, 2-butyl group, isobutyl group, and t-butyl group. Specific examples of the alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) in R3 include methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, isopropoxy group, n-butoxy group, 2-butoxy group, isobutoxy group, and t-butoxy group. Specific examples of the aryl group in R3 include phenyl group, naphthyl group, and anthryl group. Specific examples of the aryloxy group in R3 include phenyloxy group, naphthyloxy group, and anthryloxy group. The compound represented by the formula (1) can be synthesized, for example, with the method described in JP-A No. Sho62-226993 or J. Org. Chem., 56, 1783 (1991). Further, a compound in which R1 is methyl group, R2 and R4 are hydrogen atom, and R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), or a benzyloxy group is preferable among the compounds represented by the formula (1) . Specific examples of the compounds represented by the formula (1) include the compounds shown below. 2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-acetylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-propionylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-benzonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-buten oic acid, 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-bute noic acid, 2-propionylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-benzoylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-benzoylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but enoic acid, 2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2-propionylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2-benzoylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-buten oic acid methyl ester. 2-benzyloxycarbonylami.no-4- (hydroxymethylphosphinyl) -2-bute noic acid methyl ester, 2-propionylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2-benzoylamlno-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but enoic acid methyl ester, 2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenolc acid ethyl ester, 2-propionylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid ethyl ester, 2-benzoylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid ethyl ester, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-buten oic acid ethyl ester, 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-bute noic acid ethyl ester, 2-propionylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid ethyl ester, 2-benzoylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid ethyl ester, 2-1-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)- 2-but enoic acid ethyl ester, 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but enoic acid methyl ester, 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but enoic acid ethyl ester, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-bute noic acid methyl ester, 2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-bute noic acid ethyl ester, 2-benzoylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2-benzoylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid ethyl ester, 2-acetylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, and 2-acetylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid ethyl ester. The ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in the present invention includes a complex obtained from a ruthenium compound, an optically active phosphine compound, and, if desired, a neutral organic coordinated compound or an amine compound. The above-described ruthenium compound may be a ruthenium compound normally used in this art, and there is exemplified ruthenium halide such as RuCl3. RuBr3, and Rul3, and its hydrates, and a complex such as (RuCl2(benzene) )2, (RuBr2(benzene) )2, (Rul2(benzene) )2/ (RuCl2(p-cymene))2, (RuBr2(p-cymene) )2, (Rul2(p-cymene) )2, (RuCl2(cod) )n, (RuBr2(cod) )n, and (RuI2(cod))n. (The above-described "cod" represents 1,5-cyclooctadiene. The same applies hereinafter.) The above-described optically active phosphine compound may be an optically active phosphine compound normally used in this art, and its example includes a phosphine compound having bidentate coordination property, and further preferably an optically active phosphine compound having axial asymmetry. In the present invention, the optically active phosphine compound preferably used to obtain the above-described ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex includes an optically active substance of phosphine represented by the formula (3) (in the formula (3), each of R5, R6, R7, and Ra independently represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl group, or a cyclohexyl group) and an optically active substance of phosphine represented by the formula (4) (in the formula (4), each of R9, R10, R11, and R12 independently represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl group, or a cyclohexyl group; R13, R14, R16, and R17 independently represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, halogen atom, ahaloalkylgroup, or a dialkylamino group, and R15 and R18 represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group. an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group; a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a subs tituent may be formed in two of R13, R14, and R15 and a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in two of R16, R17, and R18; and further, a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in R15 and R18) . Hereinafter, each substituent in the formulas (3) and (4) is explained. In the formulas (3) and (4), "a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group" represented by R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 is either phenyl group or a phenyl group substituted with a substituent, and the substituent is halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a lower alkoxy group. An example of the phenyl group substituted with a substituent includes a phenyl group in which one or two hydrogen atoms of the phenyl group is substituted with the above-described substituent. In the case that the above-described substituent is two or more, they may be the same or may be different. Examples of the halogen atom as the above-described substituent include fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, and iodine atom, and particularly fluorine atom is preferable. Examples of the above-described lower alkyl group are a linear, a branched, or a cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s), preferably 1 to 4 carbon atom(s). Further, Examples of the above-described lower alkoxy group are a linear, a branched. or a cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) , preferably 1 to 4 carbon atom(s). With regard to the lower alkyl group as a substituent on the phenyl group in R5, R6, R7, and R8, for example, there is exemplified an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl group, 2-butyl group, and tert-butyl group. With regard to the lower alkoxy group as the substituent, for example, there is exemplified an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, isopropoxy group, n-butoxy group, isobutoxy group, 2-butoxy group, and t-butoxy group. With regard to the halogen atom as the substituent, for example, there is exemplified halogen atom such as chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom. Specific examples of the group represented by R5, R6, R7, and R8 include phenyl group, p-tolyl group, m-tolyl group, 3,5-xylyl group, p-t-butylphenyl group, p-methoxyphenyl group, 4-methoxy-3,5-di(t-butyl)phenyl group, 4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl group, p-chlorophenyl group, cyclopentyl group, and cyclohexyl group. Specific examples of the optically active phosphine compound represented by the formula (3) include 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter referred to as binap), 2,2'-bis(di(p-tolyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter referred to as t-binap), 2,2'-bis(di(m-tolyl)phosphino)-l,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di(3,5-xylyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter referred to as dm-binap), 2,2' -bis(di(p-1-butylphenyl)phosphino}-1,1•-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl)phosphino)-l,l'- binaphthyl, 2,2'-(bis(di(cyclopentyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, and 2,2'-bis(di(cyclohexyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl. Among these, binap or t-binap is more preferable. With regard to the lower alkyl group as a substituent on the phenyl group in R9 to R12, for example, there is exemplified an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methyl group and tert-butyl group. With regard to the lower alkoxy group as the substituent, for example, there is exemplified an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methoxy group and tert-butoxy group. With regard to the halogen atom as the substituent, for example, there is exemplified chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom. These substituents may substitute a plurality of sites on the phenyl group. Specific examples as R9, R10, R11, and R12 include phenyl group, p-tolyl group, m-tolyl group, o-tolyl group, 3,5-xylyl group, 3,5-di-t-butylphenyl group, p-t-butylphenyl group, p-methoxyphenyl group, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl group, p-chlorophenyl group, m-fluorophenyl group, cyclopentyl group, and cyclohexyl group. 1T 18 With regard to the alkyl group represented by R to R , for example, there is exemplified an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methyl group and t-butyl group. With regard to the alkoxy group, for example, there is exemplified an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methoxy group and t-butoxy group. With regard to the acyloxy group, for example, there is exemplified acetoxy group, propanoyloxy group, trifluoroacetoxy group, and benzoyloxy group. With regard to the halogen atom, for example, there is exemplified chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom. With regard to the haloalkyl group, for example, there is exemplified a haloalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) such as trif luoromethyl group. With regard to the dialkylamino group , for example, there is exemplified dimethylamino group and diethylamino group. The methylene chain in "a methylene chain that may have a substituent" of the case of forming a methylene chain that may have a substituent in two of R13, R14, and R15, the case of forming a methylene chain that may have a substituent in two of R16, R17, and R18, and the case of forming a methylene chain that may have a substituent in two of R15 and R18 is preferably a methylene chain having 3 to 5 carbon atoms, and its specific examples include trimethylene group, tetramethylene group, and pentamethylene group. Further, the substituent in "amethylene chain that may have a substituent" includes an alkyl group and halogen atom, and its specific examples include the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) as described above (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl group, 2-butyl group, tert-butyl group, etc.), chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom. The (poly)methylenedioxy group in "a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent" in the case of forming a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent in two of R , R , and R 5, the case of forming a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent in two of R16, R17, and R18, and the case of forming a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent in two of R15 and R18 is preferably a (poly)methylenedioxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atom(s), and its specific examples include methylenedioxy group, ethylenedioxy group, and trimetylendioxy group. Further, the substituent in "a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent" include an alkyl group and halogen atom, and its specific examples include the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) as described above (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl group, 2-butyl group, tert-butyl group, etc.), chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom. Specific groups of the (poly)methylenedioxy group substituted with an alkyl group or halogen atom include propane-2,2-diyldioxy group, butane -2,3- diyldioxy group, and dif luoromethylenedioxy group. Specific examples of the optically active phosphine compound represented by the formula (4) are not limited to the following compounds, but include 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1 ,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro -1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di-m-tolylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro -1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di-3,5-xylylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahyd ro-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di-p-tertiarybutylphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7', 8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2' -bis(di-p-methoxyphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-o ctahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(di-p-chlorophenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-oc tahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(dicyclopentylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahy dro-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2,2'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahyd ro-1,1'-binaphthyl, ((4,4'-bi-l,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine ) (hereinafter referred to as segphos), ((4,4'-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-dimethylp henyl)phosphine), ((4,4'-bi-l,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-di-t-buty l-4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine), ((4 , 4'-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(4-methoxyphen yl)phosphine), ((4,4'-bi-l,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(dicyclohexylphosp hine), ((4,4'-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-di-t-buty lphenyl)phosphine), 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-5,5'-dime thoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(di-p-methoxyphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl -5,5'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2' -bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetra(trifluoromethyl )- 5,5'-dimethyl-1,1 -biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,6-di(trifluoromethyl)-4',6'-d imethyl-5'-methoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, 2-dicyclohexylphosphi.no-2 ' -diphenylphosphino-4, 4 ' , 6, 6 ' -tetr amethyl-5,5'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biph enyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-3,3',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biph enyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4'-difluoro-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1 '-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-6,6'-di methyl-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(di-o-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(di-m-fluorophenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-bip henyl, 1,11-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,7-dihydrobenzo(c,e)oxepin, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6'-tetramethoxy-1,1'-bip henyl, 2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl, and 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',5,5',6,6'-hexamethoxy-1,1' -biphenyl. Furthermore, examples of the optically active phosphine compound which can be used in the present invention other than the compound represented by the formulas (3) and (4) include N,N-dimethyl-1-(1',2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl)ethyl amine, 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, 1-cyclohexyl-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, 2,3-0-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-l,4-bis(diphenylphosphin o)butane, l,2-bis((o-methoxyphenyl)phenylphosphino)ethane, 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylphosphorano)benzene, 1,2-bis(2,5-diisopropylphosphorano)benzene, 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylphosphorano)ethane, 1-(2,5-dimethylphosphorano)-2-(diphenylphosphino)benzene, 5,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2-norbornene, N,N'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)ethylene diamine, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, and 2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane. The optically active phosphine compound that can be used in the present invention is not limited to these at all. Furthermore, examples of the neutral organic coordinated compound to be used with desire to obtain the ruthenium-optically active complex according to the present invention include nonconjugated diene such as 1,5-cyclooctadiene (hereinafter referred to as cod) and norbornadiene (hereinafter referred to as nbd); a benzene derivative such as benzene, p-cymene, and mesitylene; N,N-dimethylformamide; and acetonitrile, and examples of the amine compound include a tri-lower alkylamine (for example, trimethyamine, triethylamine, etc.), a di-lower alkylamine (for example, dimethylamine, diethylamine, etc.). and pyridine. The ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in the present invention is preferably a complex represented by the following formula (5) (RuaWbXcLd)eYfZg (5) (in the formula (5) , L represents the optically active substance of phosphine represented by the above-described, formula (3) or (4); X represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I); and further, combinations of values represented by a, b, c, d, e, f, and g and substances represented by W, Y, and Z are any of the combinations listed in i) to vi)). i) a=2, b=0, c=4, d=2, e=l, f=l, g=0, and Y represents N(CH2CH3)3. ii) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=l, e=l, f=l, g=0, W represents benzene, p-cymene, ormesitylene, and Yrepresents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I). iii) a=l, b=0, c=l, d=l, e=2, f=3, g=l, Y represents (\|x-Cl), (μ-Br), or (μ-I). and Z represents (CH3)2NH2 or (CH3CH2)2NH2. iv) a=l, b=2, c=0, d=l, e=l, f=0, g=0, and W represents CH3C02 or CF3C02. v) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=2, e=l, f=0, g=0, W represents hydrogen (H). vi) a=3, b=0, c=5, d=3, e=l, f=l, g=0, Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I). Examples of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in the present invention are the following. However, they are not limited to these. Ru(OAc)2(L), Ru(OCOCF3)(L), Ru2Cl4(L)2NEt3, ((RuCl(L) )2([i-Cl)3) (Me2NH2) , ((RuCl(L) )2(fi-Cl)3) (Et2NH2) , RuCl2 (L) , RuBr2 (L) , Rul2 (L) , RuCl2 (L) (pyridine) 2, RuBr2(L) (pyridine)2, RuI2(L) (pyridine)2 , (RuCl(benzene)(L)) CI, (RuBr(benzene)(L) ) Br, (Rul(benzene)(L) )I, (RuCl(p-cymene)(L) )C1, (RuBr(p-cymene)(L) )Br, (Rul(p-cymene)(L) )I, (RuCl(mesitylene) (L) )C1, (RuBr(mesitylene) (L) )Br, (RuI(mesitylene)(L))I, (Ru(L) ) (OTf )2, (Ru(L) ) (BF4)2, (Ru(L))(C104)2, (Ru(L))(SbF6)2, (Ru(L) ) (PF6)2, Ru3Cl5(L)3, and RuHCl(L)2 (In the following description and the above-described examples of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex, L* represents an optically active phosphine compound, Ac represents acetyl group, Et represents ethyl group. Me represents methyl group, and Tf represents trifluoromethanesulfonyl group.) The ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in the present invention is produced using a well-known method. For example, it can be prepared by heating reflux on (Ru(cod)Cl2)n and an optically active phosphine compound in a toluene solvent in the presence of trialkylamine as described in J. Chem. Soc. , Chem. Commun. , 922(1985) . Further, it can be prepared by heating reflux on (Ru(benzene)C12)2 and an optically active phosphine compound in tetrahydrof uran in the presence of dialkylamine with the method described in JP-A No. Heill-269185 . Further, it can be prepared by heating reflux on (Ru(p-cymene)I2)2 and an optically active phosphine compound in methylene chloride and ethanol with the method described in J. Chem. Soc. , Chem. Commun. , 1208 (1989). The reaction of asymmetric hydrogenation carried out in the process for the production according to the present invention is a hydrogen addition reaction, and can be carried out a reaction of the compound represented in the formula (1) with hydrogen gas in the presence of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. The amount of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used differs depending on the reaction condition, the type of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex, etc. However, it is normally about 1/50 to 1/100000 in a molar ratio to aminophosphinylbutenoic acids represented by the formula (l),and preferably in the range of about 1/200 to 1/10000. Further, the hydrogenation according to the present invention can be carried out preferably in a solvent. The solvent is preferably a solvent that can dissolve a substrate and a catalyst, and its specific examples include aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane and heptanes; halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and chlorobenzene; ethers such as diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, and 1,4-dioxane; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol; esters such as ethylacetate and butylacetate; nitriles such as acetonitrile ; amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methylpyrrolidone; amines such as pyridine and triethylamine; and water. Each of these solvents may be used independently or two or more may be mixed and used. The amount of the solvent used can be selected appropriately depending on the reaction condition, etc. The hydrogen pressure in the hydrogenation according to the present invention is normally about 0.1 to 10 MPa, and preferably 1 to 5 MPa. The reaction temperature naturally differs depending on the type of the catalyst, etc. However, it is normally about 5 to 150°C, and preferably about 30 to 100°C. The reaction time naturally differs depending on the reaction condition. However, it is normally about 5 to 30 hours. Further, a base compound can be used in the present invention depending on necessity. The base compound used in the present invention is not especially limited but includes carbonate of an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal such as a lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, rubidium carbonate, cesium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, and barium carbonate; alkaline metal alkoxide or alkaline metal phenoxide such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium phenoxide, sodium t-butoxide, potassium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium phenoxide, potassium t-butoxide, lithium methoxide, lithium ethoxide, lithium phenoxide, and lithium t-butoxide; hydroxide of an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide. The amount of the base compound used is about 0.05 to 2 times mole, and preferably about 0.1 to 1.5 times mole based on the mole number of the compound represented by the formula (1). The optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented in the formula (2) are obtained in the above-described manner. With regard to the configuration of the compound, R isomer or an S isomer can be produced by appropriately selecting the configuration of the optically active phosphine of the used ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. EXAMPLES The present invention will now be more specifically illustrated by way of the following Examples, although the present invention is not limited to thereby at all. Moreover, the analytical condition in Examples is as follows. (Analytical Condition) Conversion rate: 1H-NMR and an ODS column Optical purity: a chiral column (Example 1) Production of (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid (Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid (4.0g, 18 mmol), (RuCl(p-cymene)((S)-binap)Cl (8.4 mg, 0.009 mmol) , and methanol (20ml) were added to a 200 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 70°C, hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the same temperature for 5 hours. A part of the reaction solution was taken as a sample. After completion of the reaction was confirmed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis on the sample, reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, hydrogen was purged, and then the reaction solution was moved to a 100 ml flask. After methanol was removed in vacuo and water (20 ml) was added, the water phase was washed with toluene (10 ml) twice and 24.6 g of (S) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was obtained as a solution. The optical purity of the obtained (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was 90.8% ee. Further, when the solution obtained above was concentrated, 3.8 g of a viscous yellow liquid was obtained. Moreover, the conversion rate was 100%. (Examples 2 to 4) Production of (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid It was carried out in the same manner as Example 1 except that the used amount of (RuCl(p-cymene)((S)-binap)Cl was two times and the reaction time and the reaction temperature were changed as shown in Table 1. These results are shown in Table 1 below. Further, the conversion rate was 100% in all examples . (Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid (4.0g, 18 mmol), (RuCl( (R) -segphos)2(n-Cl)3(Et2NH2) (0.150 g, 0.09 mmol), and methanol (40ml) were added to a 200 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 70°C, hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the same temperature for 5 hours. A part of the reaction solution was taken as a sample. After completion of the reaction was confirmed with HPLC analysis on the sample, reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, hydrogen was released, and then the reaction solution was moved to a 100 ml flask. After methanol was removed in vacuo and adding water (20 ml) , the water phase was washed with toluene (10 ml) twice and a solution of (R) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was obtained. The optical purity of the obtained (R) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was 92.8% ee. Further, the conversion rate was 100%. (Example 6) Production of (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid It was carried out in the same manner as Example 1 except that the used amount of (RuCl(p-cymene) ((S)-binap)Cl was two times and 1 equivalent of sodium methoxide (NaOMe) to a hydrogenated substrate was added in the reaction system. As the result, (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was obtained with the optical purity of 95.3% ee. Further, the conversion rate was 100%. (Examples 7 to 9) Production of (R)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid It was carried out in the same manner as Example 1 except that the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex was changed and various additives (1 equivalent to the hydrogenated substrate) were added in the reaction system as shown in Table 2. These results are shown in Table 2 below. Further, the conversion rate was 100% in all examples. (Example 10) Production of (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid (Z) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid (5.0g, 22.5 mmol), (RuCl(p-cymene) ((S)-binap)Cl (5.2 mg, 0.0056 mmol), n-butanol (10 ml), water (15 ml), and sodium carbonate (240mg) were added to a 100 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 90°C, hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the same temperature for 6 hours. Completion of the reaction was confirmed by taking a part of the reaction solution as a sample. The optical purity of the obtained (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was 90.4% ee. (Example 11) Production of (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid methyl ester (Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid methyl ester (4.9g, 19.8 mmol), (RuCl(p-cymene)((S)-binap)Cl (1.8 mg, 0.0019 mmol), and methanol (20 ml) were added to a 100 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 90°C, hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the same temperature for 4 hours. Completion of the reaction was confirmed by taking a part of the reaction solution as a sample. The optical purity of the obtained (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid methyl ester was 90.9% ee. (Example 12) Production of (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid methyl ester (Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid methyl ester (46.1g, 185.0 mmol), (RuCl(p-cymene) (S) -binap)Cl (1.7mg, 0 .0018 mmol) , and methanol (92 ml) were added to a 300 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 90°C, hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the same temperature for 5 hours. Completion of the reaction was confirmed by taking a part of the reaction solution as a sample. The optical purity of the obtained (S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid methyl ester was 90.3% ee. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is to stereoselectively synthesize optically active amino phosphinylbutanoic acids that is important as an intermediate of the compound useful as a herbicide such as L - AHPB by performing an asymmetric hydrogenat ion reaction on the compound represented by the formula (1) using a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst, and superior as a process that can synthesize with lower expense, good efficiency, and high selectiveness compared to the conventional synthesis process of an optical active substance. CLAIMS 1. A process for producing optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula (2) (in the formula (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) , R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s) , an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s); and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom), wherein a compound represented by the formula (1) (in the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) , an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s)) is asymmetrically hydrogenated in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex. 2. The process according to Claim 1, wherein the optically active phosphine compound constituting the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is an optically active substance of phosphine represented by the formula (3) (in the formula (3), each of R5, R6, R7, and R8 independently represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl group, or a cyclohexyl group) or the formula (4) (in the formula (4), each of R9, R10, R11, and R12 independently represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl group, or a cyclohexyl group; R13, R14, R16, and R17 independently and represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group, and R15 and R18 represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group; a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in two of R13, R14, and R15 and a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly) me thylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in two of R16, R17, and R18; and further, a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be formed in R15 and R18) . 3. The process according to Claim 2, wherein the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is a complex represented by the following formula (5) (RuaWbXcLd)eYfZg (5) (in the formula (5), L represents the optically active substance of phosphine represented by the formula (3) or (4) as in Claim 2; X represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I); and further, combinations of values represented by a, b, c, d, e, f, and g and substances represented by W, Y, and Z are any of the combinations listed in i) to vi)): i) a=2, b=0, c=4. d=2, e=l, f=l, g=0, and Y represents N(CH2CH3)3; ii) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=l, e=l, f=l, g=0, W represents benzene, p-cymene, or mesitylene, and Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I); iii) a=l, b=0, c=l, d=l, e=2, f=3, g=l, Y represents (μ-Cl), (μ-Br), or (μ-I), and Z represents (CH3)2NH2 or (CH3CH2)2NH2; iv) a=l, b=2, c=0, d=l, e=l, f=0, g=0, and W represents CH3C02 or CF3C02; v) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=2, e=l, f=0, g=0, W represents hydrogen (H) ; vi) a=3, b=0, c=5, d=3, e=l, f=l, g=0, Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I). A process for producing an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid represented by the general formula (2), comprising the step for conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation of a compound represented by the general formula (1) in the presence of a ruthenium-(optically active phosphine) complex. (1) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. (2) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and "*" means that a carbon having this symbol is an asymmetric carbon atom. The process enables to produce a compound useful as a herbicide such as L-AHPB, at good efficiency and at high asymmetric yield.

Full Text

SPECIFICATION
PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE
AMINOPHOSPHINYLBUTANOIC ACIDS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a process for the production
of optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids that are
important as an intermediate of a compound useful in a herbicide
such as L-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid
(hereinafter, abbreviated as L-AHPB).
BACKGROUND ART
DL-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid
(hereinafter, abbreviated as DL-AHPB) is a known compound having
a herbicidal activity and used as an effective herbicide having
a wide spectrum (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A)
No. Sho52-139727) . However, the herbicidal activity of DL-AHPB
is about a half of that of L-AHPB, and it has been clear that
a main substance of the herbicidal activity is L-AHPB (JP-A No.
Sho55-000025 and JP-A No. Sho59-219297). Because of this,
development of a process for producing L-AHPB selectively and
effectively has been strongly desired.
Conventionally, as for the process for the production of
L-AHPB, processes such as (a) a process with using a microorganism
and an enzyme and (b) an asymmetric synthesis method are known.
As for examples of the process of (a), a process for producing
L-AHPB from 4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-oxobutanoic acid by
using a transamination enzyme (Japanese Patent Application
National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2003-528572) and a process

for producing L-AHPB from N-acetyl-DL-AHPB by using an enzymatic
racemate resolution (Japanese Patent Application National
Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2003-505031) are disclosed.
However, there are problems in both of these processes being
needed to carry out a reaction at a low substrate concentration,
post treatment and purification steps are complicated, an
expensive optically active amino acid has to be used at an
equivalent mol or more in the transamination reaction, etc.
As for examples of the asymmetric synthesis of (b), a process
for synthesizing L-AHPB by alkylation of
(R)-3-isopropyl-2,5-dialkoxy-3,6-dihydropyrazine (JP-A No.
Sho62-132891 and Tetrahedron Lett., 1255 (1987)) and a method
of converting L-vinylglycine stereospecifically to L-AHPB
(Tetrahedron, 8263 (1992)) are disclosed. However, it is
necessary to use an expensive optically active amino acid such
as D-valine and L-vinylglycine as a starting raw material, and
there is a problem in the point of providing a raw material with
low cost and in a large amount. Furthermore, an example of the
asymmetric synthesis including a process for producing L-AHPB
by an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of
2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
(JP-A No. Sho62-226993 and J. Org. Chem. , 56, 1783 (1991)) is
disclosed. In this process, the asymmetric hydrogenation
reaction is performed using a rhodium catalyst having an
optically active diphenylphosphine compound as a ligand.
However, the rhodium catalyst is very expensive and catalytic
efficiency is not high.
On the other hand, the asymmetric hydrogenation reaction
using a rhodium catalyst from dehydroamino acid to amino acid

has already been well known in general (Chem. Rev. , 103, 3029-3070
(2003)). However, many of the reactions are an asymmetric
reduction reaction to dehydroamino acid having an alkyl group
and an aryl group in a side chain, and there are few examples
of a reaction using dehydroamino acid having a substituent with
high polarity in a side chain.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to provide a process
for the production of an optically active
aminophosphinylbutanoic acid, that is important as an
intermediate of a compound that is useful in a herbicide such
as L-AHPB, with good efficiency and high enantioselectivity with
using a catalytic asymmetric synthesis reaction.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
The present inventors performed an investigation of an
asymmetric catalyst in an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction of
2-acylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid. As
a result of the investigation, the present inventors found that
L-2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid,
which is an important intermediate of L-AHPB, can be obtained
with good efficiency and high asymmetric yield when a
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is used, and
completed the present invention.
The present invention is as follows.
(1) A process for producing optically active
aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula (2)

(in the formula (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to
4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) , R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s),
an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4
represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s); and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom), in which
a compound represented by the formula (1)

(in the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to
4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s),
an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4
represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s)) is asymmetrically hydrogenated in the presence of a
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex.
(2) The process according to the above (1), in which an optically
active phosphine compound constituting the ruthenium-optically
active phosphine complex is an optically active substance of
phosphine represented by the formula (3)

(in the formula (3), each of R5, R6, R7, and R8 independently
represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a
substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom,
a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl
group, or a cyclohexyl group) or the formula (4)

(in the formula (4), each of R9, R10, R11, and R12 independently
represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a
substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom,
a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl
group, or a cyclohexyl group; R13, R14, R16, and R17 independently
represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an
acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino
group, and R1S and R18 represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group,
an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a
dialkylamino group; a methylene chain that may have a substituent
or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may
be formed in two of R13, R14, and R15 and a methylene chain that
may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may
have a substituent may be formed in two of R16, R17, and R18; and

further, a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a
(poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be
formed in R15 and R18).
(3) The process according to the above (2), in which the
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is a complex
represented by the following formula (5)
(RuaWbXcLd)eYfZg (5)
(in the formula (5), L represents the optically active substance
of phosphine represented by the formula (3) or (4) as in the
above (2); X represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine
(I); and further, combinations of values represented by a, b,
c, d, e, f, and g and substances represented by W, Y, and Z are
any of the combinations listed in i) to vi)):
i) a=2, b=0, c=4, d=2, e=l, f=l, g=0, and Y represents
N(CH2CH3)3;
ii) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=l, e=l, f=l, g=0, W represents benzene,
p-cymene, or mesitylene, and Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine
(Br), or iodine (I);
iii) a=l, b=0, c=l, d=l, e=2, f=3, g=l, Y represents (jx-Cl),
(fi-Br), or (\i-I), and Z represents (CH3)2NH2 or ( CH3CH2) 2NH2;
iv) a=l, b=2, c=0, d=l, e=l, f=0, g=0, and W represents
CH3C02 or CF3C02;
v) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=2, e=l, f=0, g=0, W represents hydrogen
(H);
vi) a=3, b=0, c=5, d=3, e=l, f=l, g=0, Y represents chlorine
(CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I).
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

With the process for the production according to the present
invention, an optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid
that is important as an intermediate of a compound that is useful
in a herbicide such as L-AHPB can be produced with good efficiency
and high optical purity.
THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention is a process for producing an optically
active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula
(2)

(in the formula (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to
4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atom( s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s),
an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4
represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s); and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom). In the
process for the production according to the present invention,
the optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acid represented
by the above formula (2) is obtained by asymmetric hydrogenation
a compound represented by the formula (1)

(in the formula (1), Rx represents an alkyl group having 1 to
4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atom(s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s),
an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4
represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s)) in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active
phosphine complex.
The groups represented by R1, R2, R3, and R4 in the compound
represented by the formula (1) used in the present invention
and the optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids
represented by the formula (2) produced by the present invention
are explained.
Specific examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s) in R1, R2, R3, and R4 include methyl group, ethyl group,
n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, 2-butyl group,
isobutyl group, and t-butyl group.
Specific examples of the alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s) in R3 include methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy
group, isopropoxy group, n-butoxy group, 2-butoxy group,
isobutoxy group, and t-butoxy group. Specific examples of the
aryl group in R3 include phenyl group, naphthyl group, and anthryl
group. Specific examples of the aryloxy group in R3 include
phenyloxy group, naphthyloxy group, and anthryloxy group.
The compound represented by the formula (1) can be
synthesized, for example, with the method described in JP-A No.
Sho62-226993 or J. Org. Chem., 56, 1783 (1991).
Further, a compound in which R1 is methyl group, R2 and R4
are hydrogen atom, and R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon

atom(s), an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), or a
benzyloxy group is preferable among the compounds represented
by the formula (1) .
Specific examples of the compounds represented by the
formula (1) include the compounds shown below.
2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid,
2-acetylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid,
2-propionylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid,
2-benzonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-buten
oic acid,
2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-bute
noic acid,
2-propionylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid,
2-benzoylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid,
2-benzoylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but
enoic acid,
2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
methyl ester,
2-propionylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid methyl ester,
2-benzoylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
methyl ester,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-buten
oic acid methyl ester.

2-benzyloxycarbonylami.no-4- (hydroxymethylphosphinyl) -2-bute
noic acid methyl ester,
2-propionylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid methyl ester,
2-benzoylamlno-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid methyl ester,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but
enoic acid methyl ester,
2-acetylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenolc acid
ethyl ester,
2-propionylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid ethyl ester,
2-benzoylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
ethyl ester,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-buten
oic acid ethyl ester,
2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-bute
noic acid ethyl ester,
2-propionylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid ethyl ester,
2-benzoylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic
acid ethyl ester,
2-1-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(methoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)- 2-but
enoic acid ethyl ester,
2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but
enoic acid methyl ester,
2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-but
enoic acid ethyl ester,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-bute

noic acid methyl ester,
2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-bute
noic acid ethyl ester,
2-benzoylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
methyl ester,
2-benzoylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
ethyl ester,
2-acetylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
methyl ester, and
2-acetylamino-4-(ethoxy(methyl)phosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
ethyl ester.
The ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in
the present invention includes a complex obtained from a
ruthenium compound, an optically active phosphine compound, and,
if desired, a neutral organic coordinated compound or an amine
compound.
The above-described ruthenium compound may be a ruthenium
compound normally used in this art, and there is exemplified
ruthenium halide such as RuCl3. RuBr3, and Rul3, and its hydrates,
and a complex such as (RuCl2(benzene) )2, (RuBr2(benzene) )2,
(Rul2(benzene) )2/ (RuCl2(p-cymene))2, (RuBr2(p-cymene) )2,
(Rul2(p-cymene) )2, (RuCl2(cod) )n, (RuBr2(cod) )n, and
(RuI2(cod))n. (The above-described "cod" represents
1,5-cyclooctadiene. The same applies hereinafter.)
The above-described optically active phosphine compound
may be an optically active phosphine compound normally used in
this art, and its example includes a phosphine compound having
bidentate coordination property, and further preferably an
optically active phosphine compound having axial asymmetry.

In the present invention, the optically active phosphine
compound preferably used to obtain the above-described
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex includes an
optically active substance of phosphine represented by the
formula (3)

(in the formula (3), each of R5, R6, R7, and Ra independently
represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a
substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom,
a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl
group, or a cyclohexyl group) and an optically active substance
of phosphine represented by the formula (4)

(in the formula (4), each of R9, R10, R11, and R12 independently
represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a
substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom,
a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl
group, or a cyclohexyl group; R13, R14, R16, and R17 independently
represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an
acyloxy group, halogen atom, ahaloalkylgroup, or a dialkylamino
group, and R15 and R18 represent an alkyl group, an alkoxy group.

an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a
dialkylamino group; a methylene chain that may have a substituent
or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a subs tituent may
be formed in two of R13, R14, and R15 and a methylene chain that
may have a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may
have a substituent may be formed in two of R16, R17, and R18; and
further, a methylene chain that may have a substituent or a
(poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may be
formed in R15 and R18) .
Hereinafter, each substituent in the formulas (3) and (4)
is explained.
In the formulas (3) and (4), "a phenyl group that may be
substituted with a substituent selected from a group consisting
of halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group"
represented by R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 is either phenyl
group or a phenyl group substituted with a substituent, and the
substituent is halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a lower
alkoxy group. An example of the phenyl group substituted with
a substituent includes a phenyl group in which one or two hydrogen
atoms of the phenyl group is substituted with the above-described
substituent. In the case that the above-described substituent
is two or more, they may be the same or may be different.
Examples of the halogen atom as the above-described
substituent include fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom,
and iodine atom, and particularly fluorine atom is preferable.
Examples of the above-described lower alkyl group are a linear,
a branched, or a cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s),
preferably 1 to 4 carbon atom(s). Further, Examples of the
above-described lower alkoxy group are a linear, a branched.

or a cyclic alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) , preferably
1 to 4 carbon atom(s).
With regard to the lower alkyl group as a substituent on
the phenyl group in R5, R6, R7, and R8, for example, there is
exemplified an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that
may be a linear chain or branched such as methyl group, ethyl
group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl
group, 2-butyl group, and tert-butyl group. With regard to the
lower alkoxy group as the substituent, for example, there is
exemplified an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that
may be a linear chain or branched such as methoxy group, ethoxy
group, n-propoxy group, isopropoxy group, n-butoxy group,
isobutoxy group, 2-butoxy group, and t-butoxy group. With
regard to the halogen atom as the substituent, for example, there
is exemplified halogen atom such as chlorine atom, bromine atom,
and fluorine atom. Specific examples of the group represented
by R5, R6, R7, and R8 include phenyl group, p-tolyl group, m-tolyl
group, 3,5-xylyl group, p-t-butylphenyl group, p-methoxyphenyl
group, 4-methoxy-3,5-di(t-butyl)phenyl group,
4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl group, p-chlorophenyl group,
cyclopentyl group, and cyclohexyl group.
Specific examples of the optically active phosphine compound
represented by the formula (3) include
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter
referred to as binap),
2,2'-bis(di(p-tolyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl (hereinafter
referred to as t-binap),
2,2'-bis(di(m-tolyl)phosphino)-l,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di(3,5-xylyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl

(hereinafter referred to as dm-binap),
2,2' -bis(di(p-1-butylphenyl)phosphino}-1,1•-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl)phosphino)-l,l'-
binaphthyl,
2,2'-(bis(di(cyclopentyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl, and
2,2'-bis(di(cyclohexyl)phosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl. Among
these, binap or t-binap is more preferable.
With regard to the lower alkyl group as a substituent on
the phenyl group in R9 to R12, for example, there is exemplified
an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear
chain or branched such as methyl group and tert-butyl group.
With regard to the lower alkoxy group as the substituent, for
example, there is exemplified an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon
atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such as methoxy
group and tert-butoxy group. With regard to the halogen atom
as the substituent, for example, there is exemplified chlorine
atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom. These substituents may
substitute a plurality of sites on the phenyl group.
Specific examples as R9, R10, R11, and R12 include phenyl group,
p-tolyl group, m-tolyl group, o-tolyl group, 3,5-xylyl group,
3,5-di-t-butylphenyl group, p-t-butylphenyl group,
p-methoxyphenyl group, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl group,
p-chlorophenyl group, m-fluorophenyl group, cyclopentyl group,
and cyclohexyl group.
1T 18
With regard to the alkyl group represented by R to R ,
for example, there is exemplified an alkyl group having 1 to
6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched such
as methyl group and t-butyl group. With regard to the alkoxy

group, for example, there is exemplified an alkoxy group having
1 to 6 carbon atom(s) that may be a linear chain or branched
such as methoxy group and t-butoxy group. With regard to the
acyloxy group, for example, there is exemplified acetoxy group,
propanoyloxy group, trifluoroacetoxy group, and benzoyloxy
group. With regard to the halogen atom, for example, there is
exemplified chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom.
With regard to the haloalkyl group, for example, there is
exemplified a haloalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) such
as trif luoromethyl group. With regard to the dialkylamino group ,
for example, there is exemplified dimethylamino group and
diethylamino group.
The methylene chain in "a methylene chain that may have
a substituent" of the case of forming a methylene chain that
may have a substituent in two of R13, R14, and R15, the case of
forming a methylene chain that may have a substituent in two
of R16, R17, and R18, and the case of forming a methylene chain
that may have a substituent in two of R15 and R18 is preferably
a methylene chain having 3 to 5 carbon atoms, and its specific
examples include trimethylene group, tetramethylene group, and
pentamethylene group. Further, the substituent in "amethylene
chain that may have a substituent" includes an alkyl group and
halogen atom, and its specific examples include the alkyl group
having 1 to 6 carbon atom(s) as described above (for example,
methyl group, ethyl group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group,
n-butyl group, isobutyl group, 2-butyl group, tert-butyl group,
etc.), chlorine atom, bromine atom, and fluorine atom.
The (poly)methylenedioxy group in "a (poly)methylenedioxy
group that may have a substituent" in the case of forming a

(poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent in two
of R , R , and R 5, the case of forming a (poly)methylenedioxy
group that may have a substituent in two of R16, R17, and R18,
and the case of forming a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may
have a substituent in two of R15 and R18 is preferably a
(poly)methylenedioxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atom(s), and
its specific examples include methylenedioxy group,
ethylenedioxy group, and trimetylendioxy group. Further, the
substituent in "a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a
substituent" include an alkyl group and halogen atom, and its
specific examples include the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon
atom(s) as described above (for example, methyl group, ethyl
group, n-propyl group, isopropyl group, n-butyl group, isobutyl
group, 2-butyl group, tert-butyl group, etc.), chlorine atom,
bromine atom, and fluorine atom. Specific groups of the
(poly)methylenedioxy group substituted with an alkyl group or
halogen atom include propane-2,2-diyldioxy group,
butane -2,3- diyldioxy group, and dif luoromethylenedioxy group.
Specific examples of the optically active phosphine compound
represented by the formula (4) are not limited to the following
compounds, but include
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1
,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro
-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di-m-tolylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro
-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di-3,5-xylylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahyd
ro-1,1'-binaphthyl,

2,2'-bis(di-p-tertiarybutylphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',
8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2' -bis(di-p-methoxyphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-o
ctahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(di-p-chlorophenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-oc
tahydro-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(dicyclopentylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahy
dro-1,1'-binaphthyl,
2,2'-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahyd
ro-1,1'-binaphthyl,
((4,4'-bi-l,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine
) (hereinafter referred to as segphos),
((4,4'-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-dimethylp
henyl)phosphine),
((4,4'-bi-l,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-di-t-buty
l-4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine),
((4 , 4'-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(4-methoxyphen
yl)phosphine),
((4,4'-bi-l,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(dicyclohexylphosp
hine),
((4,4'-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5'-diyl)bis(bis(3,5-di-t-buty
lphenyl)phosphine),
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-5,5'-dime
thoxy-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(di-p-methoxyphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl
-5,5'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2' -bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetra(trifluoromethyl
)- 5,5'-dimethyl-1,1 *-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,6-di(trifluoromethyl)-4',6'-d

imethyl-5'-methoxy-1,1'-biphenyl,
2-dicyclohexylphosphi.no-2 ' -diphenylphosphino-4, 4 ' , 6, 6 ' -tetr
amethyl-5,5'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biph
enyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-3,3',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biph
enyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4'-difluoro-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1
'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-6,6'-di
methyl-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(di-o-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(di-m-fluorophenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethyl-1,1'-bip
henyl,
1,11-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,7-dihydrobenzo(c,e)oxepin,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl,
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-5,5',6,6'-tetramethoxy-1,1'-bip
henyl,
2,2'-bis(di-p-tolylphosphino)-6,6'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl,
and
2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4',5,5',6,6'-hexamethoxy-1,1'
-biphenyl.
Furthermore, examples of the optically active phosphine
compound which can be used in the present invention other than
the compound represented by the formulas (3) and (4) include
N,N-dimethyl-1-(1',2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl)ethyl
amine, 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane,

1-cyclohexyl-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane,
2,3-0-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-l,4-bis(diphenylphosphin
o)butane, l,2-bis((o-methoxyphenyl)phenylphosphino)ethane,
1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylphosphorano)benzene,
1,2-bis(2,5-diisopropylphosphorano)benzene,
1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylphosphorano)ethane,
1-(2,5-dimethylphosphorano)-2-(diphenylphosphino)benzene,
5,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2-norbornene,
N,N'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)ethylene
diamine, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, and
2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane. The optically active
phosphine compound that can be used in the present invention
is not limited to these at all.
Furthermore, examples of the neutral organic coordinated
compound to be used with desire to obtain the ruthenium-optically
active complex according to the present invention include
nonconjugated diene such as 1,5-cyclooctadiene (hereinafter
referred to as cod) and norbornadiene (hereinafter referred to
as nbd); a benzene derivative such as benzene, p-cymene, and
mesitylene; N,N-dimethylformamide; and acetonitrile, and
examples of the amine compound include a tri-lower alkylamine
(for example, trimethyamine, triethylamine, etc.), a di-lower
alkylamine (for example, dimethylamine, diethylamine, etc.).
and pyridine.
The ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in
the present invention is preferably a complex represented by
the following formula (5)
(RuaWbXcLd)eYfZg (5)
(in the formula (5) , L represents the optically active substance

of phosphine represented by the above-described, formula (3) or
(4); X represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I);
and further, combinations of values represented by a, b, c, d,
e, f, and g and substances represented by W, Y, and Z are any
of the combinations listed in i) to vi)).
i) a=2, b=0, c=4, d=2, e=l, f=l, g=0, and Y represents
N(CH2CH3)3.
ii) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=l, e=l, f=l, g=0, W represents benzene,
p-cymene, ormesitylene, and Yrepresents chlorine (CI), bromine
(Br), or iodine (I).
iii) a=l, b=0, c=l, d=l, e=2, f=3, g=l, Y represents (|x-Cl),
(μ-Br), or (μ-I). and Z represents (CH3)2NH2 or (CH3CH2)2NH2.
iv) a=l, b=2, c=0, d=l, e=l, f=0, g=0, and W represents
CH3C02 or CF3C02.
v) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=2, e=l, f=0, g=0, W represents hydrogen
(H).
vi) a=3, b=0, c=5, d=3, e=l, f=l, g=0, Y represents chlorine
(CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I).
Examples of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine
complex used in the present invention are the following. However,
they are not limited to these.
Ru(OAc)2(L*), Ru(OCOCF3)(L*), Ru2Cl4(L*)2NEt3,
((RuCl(L*) )2([i-Cl)3) (Me2NH2) , ((RuCl(L*) )2(fi-Cl)3) (Et2NH2) ,
RuCl2 (L*) , RuBr2 (L*) , Rul2 (L*) , RuCl2 (L*) (pyridine) 2,
RuBr2(L*) (pyridine)2, RuI2(L*) (pyridine)2 ,
(RuCl(benzene)(L*)) CI, (RuBr(benzene)(L*) ) Br,
(Rul(benzene)(L*) )I, (RuCl(p-cymene)(L*) )C1,
(RuBr(p-cymene)(L*) )Br, (Rul(p-cymene)(L*) )I,
(RuCl(mesitylene) (L*) )C1, (RuBr(mesitylene) (L*) )Br,

(RuI(mesitylene)(L*))I, (Ru(L*) ) (OTf )2, (Ru(L*) ) (BF4)2,
(Ru(L*))(C104)2, (Ru(L*))(SbF6)2, (Ru(L*) ) (PF6)2, Ru3Cl5(L*)3, and
RuHCl(L*)2
(In the following description and the above-described examples
of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex, L*
represents an optically active phosphine compound, Ac represents
acetyl group, Et represents ethyl group. Me represents methyl
group, and Tf represents trifluoromethanesulfonyl group.)
The ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex used in
the present invention is produced using a well-known method.
For example, it can be prepared by heating reflux on (Ru(cod)Cl2)n
and an optically active phosphine compound in a toluene solvent
in the presence of trialkylamine as described in J. Chem. Soc. ,
Chem. Commun. , 922(1985) . Further, it can be prepared by heating
reflux on (Ru(benzene)C12)2 and an optically active phosphine
compound in tetrahydrof uran in the presence of dialkylamine with
the method described in JP-A No. Heill-269185 . Further, it can
be prepared by heating reflux on (Ru(p-cymene)I2)2 and an
optically active phosphine compound in methylene chloride and
ethanol with the method described in J. Chem. Soc. , Chem. Commun. ,
1208 (1989).
The reaction of asymmetric hydrogenation carried out in
the process for the production according to the present invention
is a hydrogen addition reaction, and can be carried out a reaction
of the compound represented in the formula (1) with hydrogen
gas in the presence of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine
complex. The amount of the ruthenium-optically active
phosphine complex used differs depending on the reaction
condition, the type of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine

complex, etc. However, it is normally about 1/50 to 1/100000
in a molar ratio to aminophosphinylbutenoic acids represented
by the formula (l),and preferably in the range of about 1/200
to 1/10000.
Further, the hydrogenation according to the present
invention can be carried out preferably in a solvent. The solvent
is preferably a solvent that can dissolve a substrate and a
catalyst, and its specific examples include aromatic
hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbons
such as hexane and heptanes; halogenated hydrocarbons such as
methylene chloride and chlorobenzene; ethers such as
diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, and 1,4-dioxane; alcohols such
as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol; esters such
as ethylacetate and butylacetate; nitriles such as acetonitrile ;
amides such as N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methylpyrrolidone;
amines such as pyridine and triethylamine; and water. Each of
these solvents may be used independently or two or more may be
mixed and used. The amount of the solvent used can be selected
appropriately depending on the reaction condition, etc.
The hydrogen pressure in the hydrogenation according to
the present invention is normally about 0.1 to 10 MPa, and
preferably 1 to 5 MPa. The reaction temperature naturally
differs depending on the type of the catalyst, etc. However,
it is normally about 5 to 150°C, and preferably about 30 to 100°C.
The reaction time naturally differs depending on the reaction
condition. However, it is normally about 5 to 30 hours.
Further, a base compound can be used in the present invention
depending on necessity. The base compound used in the present
invention is not especially limited but includes carbonate of

an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal such as a lithium
carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, rubidium
carbonate, cesium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium
carbonate, and barium carbonate; alkaline metal alkoxide or
alkaline metal phenoxide such as sodium methoxide, sodium
ethoxide, sodium phenoxide, sodium t-butoxide, potassium
methoxide, potassium ethoxide, potassium phenoxide, potassium
t-butoxide, lithium methoxide, lithium ethoxide, lithium
phenoxide, and lithium t-butoxide; hydroxide of an alkaline metal
or an alkaline earth metal such as sodium hydroxide, potassium
hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, and calcium
hydroxide.
The amount of the base compound used is about 0.05 to 2
times mole, and preferably about 0.1 to 1.5 times mole based
on the mole number of the compound represented by the formula
(1).
The optically active aminophosphinylbutanoic acids
represented in the formula (2) are obtained in the
above-described manner. With regard to the configuration of the
compound, R isomer or an S isomer can be produced by appropriately
selecting the configuration of the optically active phosphine
of the used ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex.
EXAMPLES
The present invention will now be more specifically
illustrated by way of the following Examples, although the
present invention is not limited to thereby at all. Moreover,
the analytical condition in Examples is as follows.
(Analytical Condition)

Conversion rate: 1H-NMR and an ODS column
Optical purity: a chiral column
(Example 1)
Production of
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid

(Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid
(4.0g, 18 mmol), (RuCl(p-cymene)((S)-binap)Cl (8.4 mg, 0.009
mmol) , and methanol (20ml) were added to a 200 ml autoclave,
and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were
performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 70°C,
hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution
was stirred at the same temperature for 5 hours. A part of the
reaction solution was taken as a sample. After completion of
the reaction was confirmed with high performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) analysis on the sample, reaction solution
was cooled to room temperature, hydrogen was purged, and then
the reaction solution was moved to a 100 ml flask. After methanol
was removed in vacuo and water (20 ml) was added, the water phase
was washed with toluene (10 ml) twice and 24.6 g of
(S) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was
obtained as a solution. The optical purity of the obtained
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was
90.8% ee.
Further, when the solution obtained above was concentrated,
3.8 g of a viscous yellow liquid was obtained. Moreover, the

conversion rate was 100%.
(Examples 2 to 4)
Production of
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
It was carried out in the same manner as Example 1 except
that the used amount of (RuCl(p-cymene)((S)-binap)Cl was two
times and the reaction time and the reaction temperature were
changed as shown in Table 1. These results are shown in Table
1 below. Further, the conversion rate was 100% in all examples .

(Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic acid
(4.0g, 18 mmol), (RuCl( (R) -segphos)2(n-Cl)3(Et2NH2) (0.150 g,
0.09 mmol), and methanol (40ml) were added to a 200 ml autoclave,
and a nitrogen substitution and a hydrogen substitution were
performed. The temperature in the autoclave was set to 70°C,

hydrogen gas was charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution
was stirred at the same temperature for 5 hours. A part of
the reaction solution was taken as a sample. After completion
of the reaction was confirmed with HPLC analysis on the sample,
reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, hydrogen was
released, and then the reaction solution was moved to a 100 ml
flask. After methanol was removed in vacuo and adding water
(20 ml) , the water phase was washed with toluene (10 ml) twice
and a solution of
(R) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was
obtained. The optical purity of the obtained
(R) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was
92.8% ee. Further, the conversion rate was 100%.
(Example 6)
Production of
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
It was carried out in the same manner as Example 1 except
that the used amount of (RuCl(p-cymene) ((S)-binap)Cl was two
times and 1 equivalent of sodium methoxide (NaOMe) to a
hydrogenated substrate was added in the reaction system. As
the result,
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was
obtained with the optical purity of 95.3% ee. Further, the
conversion rate was 100%.
(Examples 7 to 9)
Production of
(R)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid

It was carried out in the same manner as Example 1 except
that the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex was
changed and various additives (1 equivalent to the hydrogenated
substrate) were added in the reaction system as shown in Table
2. These results are shown in Table 2 below. Further, the
conversion rate was 100% in all examples.

(Example 10)
Production of
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
(Z) -2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic
acid (5.0g, 22.5 mmol), (RuCl(p-cymene) ((S)-binap)Cl (5.2 mg,
0.0056 mmol), n-butanol (10 ml), water (15 ml), and sodium
carbonate (240mg) were added to a 100 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen
substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The
temperature in the autoclave was set to 90°C, hydrogen gas was
charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the
same temperature for 6 hours. Completion of the reaction was
confirmed by taking a part of the reaction solution as a sample.
The optical purity of the obtained
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid was
90.4% ee.

(Example 11)
Production of
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
methyl ester
(Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic
acid methyl ester (4.9g, 19.8 mmol),
(RuCl(p-cymene)((S)-binap)Cl (1.8 mg, 0.0019 mmol), and
methanol (20 ml) were added to a 100 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen
substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The
temperature in the autoclave was set to 90°C, hydrogen gas was
charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the
same temperature for 4 hours. Completion of the reaction was
confirmed by taking a part of the reaction solution as a sample.
The optical purity of the obtained
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
methyl ester was 90.9% ee.
(Example 12)
Production of
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
methyl ester
(Z)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinyl-2-butenoic
acid methyl ester (46.1g, 185.0 mmol),
(RuCl(p-cymene) (S) -binap)Cl (1.7mg, 0 .0018 mmol) , and methanol
(92 ml) were added to a 300 ml autoclave, and a nitrogen
substitution and a hydrogen substitution were performed. The
temperature in the autoclave was set to 90°C, hydrogen gas was
charged to 1 MPa, and the reaction solution was stirred at the
same temperature for 5 hours. Completion of the reaction was

confirmed by taking a part of the reaction solution as a sample.
The optical purity of the obtained
(S)-2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylphosphinylbutanoic acid
methyl ester was 90.3% ee.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention is to stereoselectively synthesize
optically active amino phosphinylbutanoic acids that is
important as an intermediate of the compound useful as a herbicide
such as L - AHPB by performing an asymmetric hydrogenat ion reaction
on the compound represented by the formula (1) using a
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst, and
superior as a process that can synthesize with lower expense,
good efficiency, and high selectiveness compared to the
conventional synthesis process of an optical active substance.

CLAIMS
1. A process for producing optically active
aminophosphinylbutanoic acids represented by the formula (2)

(in the formula (2), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to
4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s) , R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atom( s) , an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom( s),
an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4
represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s); and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom), wherein
a compound represented by the formula (1)

(in the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to
4 carbon atom(s), R2 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s), R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atom(s) , an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s),
an aryl group, an aryloxy group, or a benzyloxy group, and R4
represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon
atom(s))
is asymmetrically hydrogenated in the presence of a
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex.

2. The process according to Claim 1, wherein the optically
active phosphine compound constituting the ruthenium-optically
active phosphine complex is an optically active substance of
phosphine represented by the formula (3)

(in the formula (3), each of R5, R6, R7, and R8 independently
represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a
substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom,
a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl
group, or a cyclohexyl group) or the formula (4)

(in the formula (4), each of R9, R10, R11, and R12 independently
represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a
substituent selected from a group consisting of halogen atom,
a lower alkyl group, and a lower alkoxy group, a cyclopentyl
group, or a cyclohexyl group; R13, R14, R16, and R17 independently
and represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group,
an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a
dialkylamino group, and R15 and R18 represent an alkyl group,
an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, halogen atom, a haloalkyl

group, or a dialkylamino group; a methylene chain that may have
a substituent or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a
substituent may be formed in two of R13, R14, and R15 and a methylene
chain that may have a substituent or a (poly) me thylenedioxy group
that may have a substituent may be formed in two of R16, R17,
and R18; and further, a methylene chain that may have a substituent
or a (poly)methylenedioxy group that may have a substituent may
be formed in R15 and R18) .
3. The process according to Claim 2, wherein the
ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex is a complex
represented by the following formula (5)
(RuaWbXcLd)eYfZg (5)
(in the formula (5), L represents the optically active substance
of phosphine represented by the formula (3) or (4) as in Claim
2; X represents chlorine (CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I); and
further, combinations of values represented by a, b, c, d, e,
f, and g and substances represented by W, Y, and Z are any of
the combinations listed in i) to vi)):
i) a=2, b=0, c=4. d=2, e=l, f=l, g=0, and Y represents
N(CH2CH3)3;
ii) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=l, e=l, f=l, g=0, W represents benzene,
p-cymene, or mesitylene, and Y represents chlorine (CI), bromine
(Br), or iodine (I);
iii) a=l, b=0, c=l, d=l, e=2, f=3, g=l, Y represents (μ-Cl),
(μ-Br), or (μ-I), and Z represents (CH3)2NH2 or (CH3CH2)2NH2;
iv) a=l, b=2, c=0, d=l, e=l, f=0, g=0, and W represents
CH3C02 or CF3C02;
v) a=l, b=l, c=l, d=2, e=l, f=0, g=0, W represents hydrogen

(H) ;
vi) a=3, b=0, c=5, d=3, e=l, f=l, g=0, Y represents chlorine
(CI), bromine (Br), or iodine (I).

A process for producing an optically active
aminophosphinylbutanoic acid represented by the general formula
(2), comprising the step for conducting the asymmetric hydrogenation
of a compound represented by the general formula (1) in the presence
of a ruthenium-(optically active phosphine) complex. (1) wherein R1
represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents
a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3
represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group
having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an aryloxy group or a
benzyloxy group; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. (2) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group
having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl
group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having
1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an
aryl group, an aryloxy group or a benzyloxy group; R4 represents a
hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and "*"
means that a carbon having this symbol is an asymmetric carbon atom.
The process enables to produce a compound useful as a herbicide such
as L-AHPB, at good efficiency and at high asymmetric yield.

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Patent Number

269024

Indian Patent Application Number

271/KOLNP/2009

PG Journal Number

40/2015

Publication Date

02-Oct-2015

Grant Date

29-Sep-2015

Date of Filing

20-Jan-2009

Name of Patentee

TAKASAGO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

Applicant Address

37-1, KAMATA 5-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	MINOWA NOBUTO	C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD., 760, MOROOKA-CHO, KOHOKU-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 222-8567
2	MITOMI MASAAKI	C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD., 760, MOROOKA-CHO, KOHOKU-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 222-8567
3	NARA HIDEKI	C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD., 760, MOROOKA-CHO, KOHOKU-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 222-8567
4	YOKOZAWA TOHRU	C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD., 760, MOROOKA-CHO, KOHOKU-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 222-8567
5	NAKANISHI NOZOMU	C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD., 760, MOROOKA-CHO, KOHOKU-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 222-8567

PCT International Classification Number

C07F 9/30

PCT International Application Number

PCT/JP2007/067116

PCT International Filing date

2007-09-03

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	2006-238753	2006-09-04	Japan