PREPARATION OF DURABLE MODIFIED RANEY NICKEL CATALYST (MRNi)

Abstract A new type of asymmetrically modified Raney nickel catalyst with high durability has been prepared by treating the Raney nickel modified with tartaric acid and NaBr with a small amount of amine. The resulting catalyst showed high enantioface-differentiating ability and hydrogenation activity even after repeated uses of ten times upon the hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate to methyl 3-hydroxybutyrate.