Process for preparing 5-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[2-((2R,4R)-4-hydroxy-6-oxo-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl) ethyl]-2-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid phenylamide

Abstract

A method for preparing 5-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[2-((2R,4R)-4-hydroxy-6-oxo-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl)-ethyl]-2-isopropyl-4-phenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid phenylamide (I), a key intermediate in the synthesis of atorvastatin calcium, is described.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9  A transition metal catalyst, wherein the transition metal catalyst is prepared from a transition metal catalyst precursor and a chiral, non racemic ligand which is a chiral diamine ligand or a chiral alcohol amine ligand.  
   
   
       10 . The transition metal catalyst of  claim 9 , wherein the transition metal catalyst precursor is selected from [dichloro-(1,5-cycloocta-diene)]ruthenium (II) oligomer, [RuCl 2 benzene] 2 , [RuCl 2 p-cymene] 2 , [RuCl 2  mesitylene] 2 , [dibromo-(1,5-cyclooctadiene)]ruthenium (II) dimer, [bis-(2-methallyl)cycloocta-1,5-diene]ruthenium (II) complex, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iridium (III)chloride dimer, and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium (III)chloride dimer.  
   
   
       11 . The transition metal catalyst of  claim 9 , wherein the non racemic ligand is a chiral diamine ligand or a chiral alcohol amine ligand selected from norephedrine or compounds 7 or 8:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       12 - 59 . (canceled)