Open AccessEnantioselective Catalysis for Agrochemicals: The Case History of the DUAL MAGNUM® Herbicide
Author(s) -
HansUlrich Blaser,
Felix Spindler
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.1997.297
Subject(s) - enantioselective synthesis , catalysis , agrochemical , imine , organic chemistry , chemistry , iridium , combinatorial chemistry , biology , ecology , agriculture
The use of enantioselective catalytic methods for the technical preparation of chiral agrochemicals is illustrated by the case history of the herbicide (S)-merolachlor (trade name DUAL MAGNUM®). The key step for the technical synthesis of the enantiomerically enriched compound is the asymmetric hydrogenation of an imine intermediate, made possible by a new iridium-ferrocenyldiphosphine catalyst system. Important aspects of the development of the catalyst system as well as minimal prerequisites for the use of enantioselective catalysts for the production of agrochemicals are discussed.