Background of the Invention Enantiopure sulphones, e. g. of the formula R'-CHX-CHR3-SOZRZ (1), are of interest as synthetic building blocks, for example, as intermediates in the preparation of enantiopure hydroxamic acids which are under investigation as MMP inhibitors, as described in, inter alia, WO-A-9805635. The enantiopure hydroxamic acids may be prepared by resolution of an intermediate; however, resolution processes are inefficient, with a maximum yield of 50% of the correct enantiomer being obtainable. For drug manufacture, an asymmetric synthesis which provides a single enantiomer is often more attractive.

3-Substituted 2-sulphonylmethylpropionic acids have been prepared in moderate e. e. (enantiomeric excess), i. e. up to around 80% e. e. in two steps, from the corresponding allyl sulphides, by sequential asymmetric hydrogenation and oxidation at sulphur (DE-A- 4233100; Jendralla, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry (1994) 5: 1183-1186; Beck et al, Tetrahedron (1994) 50: 4691-4698; Jendrella, ProceedingsofChiraTech'97 (The Catalyst Group). The requisite allyl sulphides are normally prepared as E/Z mixtures by a Wittig olefination reaction; subsequent separation of geometric isomers is required to give optimum results in the asymmetric hydrogenation process. For example, (E)-2-tert- butylthiomethyl-3-(1-naphthyl)(1-naphthyl) acrylic acid was hydrogenated in methanol using a catalyst prepared from (S)- (-)-BINAP, benzeneruthenium (H) chloride dimer and NaOAc at 150°C and 13800 kPa (2000 psi), followed by peracid oxidation to give (y)-3--butylsulphonyl- 2- (1-naphthylmethyl) propionic acid. Similar results were achieved via hydrogenation of the corresponding cyclohexylamine salt form. To access (S)-3-tert-butylsulphonyl-2-(1- naphthylmethyl) propionic acid in >99% e. e. required additional processing, with concomitant loss of yield, by crystallisation of diastereomeric salts formed with (R)-1- phenylethylamine.

Homogeneous diastereoselective hydrogenation of (a-hydroxyalkyl) vinyl sulphones of formula 3

with an achiral Rh catalyst is known (Ando et al, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. (1992) 592), giving hydrogenated material in high d. e. This reaction was elaborated by carrying out a kinetic resolution of an (a-hydroxyalkyl) vinyl sulphone using (S, S)-dipamp Rh+. The starting (a-hydroxyalkyl) vinyl sulphone was recovered in 76% e. e. at 50% substrate conversion and 89% e. e. at 57% conversion. The authors indicated that diastereoselectivity is controlled predominantly by coordination of the catalyst to the a- OH group at the chiral centre of the substrate. However, the products have limited utility as synthetic intermediates.

This directing group effect may be akin to that required in asymmetric hydrogenation of other substrate classes. For example, the preparation of a-amino acids by asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides requires a group such as acetyl (Ac) on the nitrogen, which then has to be removed carefully under conditions giving minimal racemisation at the newly created chiral centre.

Summary of the Invention This invention is based on the surprising discovery that prochiral vinyl sulphones of formula (2) can be hydrogenated with high enantioselectivity, in the presence of a chiral catalyst, to give enantioenriched or enantiopure sulphones of formula (1)

By contrast to the disclosure of Ando et al, no OH group is required as a directing group in the 0-position with respect to the sulphone (i. e. as in compound (3) above); the vinyl sulphones (2) are prochiral. The reaction does not require elevated temperature or pressure to achieve good chemical conversion and high enantioselectivity. Typically, this hydrogenation can be carried out at low to moderate pressures, e. g. 7-4140 kPa (1-600 psi) and low temperatures, e. g. 0 to 60°C.

The desired sulphone product (1) is produced directly, without the need for subsequent oxidation at sulphur. In addition, the coordinating group X present in (1) provides versatile functionality for further synthetic transformations, e. g. to prepare biologically active compounds such as those described in WO-A-9805635. The sulphone group itself also facilitates a wide range of reactions, such as those reviewed by Simpkins "Sulphones in Organic Synthesis", pub. Pergamon (1993).

Description of the Invention In formulae (1) and (2): R', R'and R'are each any hydrocarbon group of less than 20 carbon atoms, optionally substituted at any position; in addition, either of R'and R3 may be H. The nature of any substituent is not critical to the generality of the procedure.

X will not normally be removable; it is a co-ordinating group including, but not restricted to, CO2H or a salt form thereof, C02R, CONHOH, CONH2, CONHR, CONR2 etc. The substrate (1) for hydrogenation may be in the form of a single geometric isomer, e. g. E, wherein R2SO2 and X groups are trans. However, this is not always necessary, since certain hydrogenation catalysts allow the enantioconvergent reaction of E/Z mixtures.

The complex which comprises the hydrogenation catalyst is made up of a transition metal, preferably rhodium, ruthenium or iridium, and a chiral ligand, preferably mono or diphosphines. Rhodium is especially preferred as the metal. Cyclic phosphines are preferred, especially those incorporating a trans-2,5-disubstituted phospholane moiety (4)

or its antipode, wherein R4 is a hydrocarbon substituent of up to 20 C atoms, typically Cl, 0 linear or branched alkyl. Known examples of such phosphines are those in the DuPHOS (US-A-5171892) and BPE (US-A-5008547) series. Known examples of the catalysts include [(S, S)-EtDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4, [(R, R)-MeDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4, [(S, S)- iPrDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4, and [(R, R)-MeBPE Rh (COD)] BF4. Both enantiomers of these catalysts are available with equal facility, and therefore either enantiomer of the sulphone (2) can be obtained by the asymmetric hydrogenation.

Alternative catalyst complexes, of the phosphetane type, are described in WO-A- 9802445.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, vinyl sulphone (2a) [2: R'is Pr, W is 4-o-methoxybenzyl, R3 is H and X is CO2H] was hydrogenated using [(S, S)- EtDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4 in methanol at 1035 kPa (150 psi) hydrogen at room temperature for 2 hours, after which time complete substrate conversion was observed.

Chiral HPLC showed that the hydrogenated sulphone (la) [variables defined as for 2a] had an e. e. of 96%. Asymmetric hydrogenation of analogues of (2a), bearing additional functionality in the Rl substituent, was similarly successful.

The vinyl sulphones (starting materials) for the process of the invention may be conveniently prepared using a modified version of the procedure described by Najera el al (J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. I (1988) 1029-1032) and in EP-A-0644176. The following reaction scheme applies: A compound of formula (5) where R'and R3 are defined as for formula (2) is reacted with a sulphonyl iodide of formula R2SO2I where R2 is defined as for formula (2), in a solvent such as DCM, and then the reaction mixture is treated with a base such as

triethylamine to eliminate hydrogen iodide and yield a vinyl sulphone of formula (2). When X is electron-withdrawing, e. g. CO2H, and R3 is H, the reaction is stereoselective and the stereochemistry of the resultant vinyl sulphones is E (trans) (Najera et al, supra).

Formation of a single geometric isomer, rather than an E/Z mixture, facilitates straightforward purification by crystallisation.

The sulphonyl iodide may be prepared from the respective sodium sulphinic acid sodium salt (R2SO2Na) by shaking an aqueous solution of the latter with a solution of iodine in dichloromethane (DCM). Using this procedure, the sulphonyl iodide is extracted cleanly into the DCM layer which is subsequently dried and then used immediately in the above reaction.

The following Examples 6 to 10 illustrate the invention. Examples 1 to 5 illustrate the preparation of vinyl sulphones (2) used as starting materials.

Example 1 (E)-3- (4-Methoxybenzenesulphonyl)-2-propylacrylic acid Sodium 4-methoxyphenylsulphinate (10.0 g, 51.49 mmol) was dissolved in water (50 ml). This solution was shaken with iodine (8.7 g, 34.29 mmol) in dichloromethane (60 ml). The dichloromethane layer turned from deep pink to orange. The dichloromethane layer was dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered into a flask containing 2- propylacrylic acid (2.0 g, 17.52 mmol). The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature and then cooled to 0°C. Triethylamine (7.3 ml, 51.49 mmol) was added and the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature over 2 hours. Sulphuric acid (2M, 50 ml) was added to quench the reaction. The organic phase was washed with 10% aqueous sodium bisulphite (50 ml), then extracted with sodium hydroxide (lg) in water (50 ml). The aqueous layer was washed with MTBE (20 ml) and the acidifed with sulphuric acid (2M, 10 ml). The product was extracted into dichloromethane (2x 30 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 ml), dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give the title compound in 90% yield. This yellow solid was recrystallised from hot solvent (ethyl acetate: heptane: glacial acetic acid 1: 1: 0.2) to give the title compound as white crystals (4.02 g, 80%).

'H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 8 1.0 (3H, t), 1.5 (2H, m), 2.8 (2H, dd), 3.7 (1H, bs), 3.95 (3H, s), 7.0 (2H, d), 7.25 (1H, s), 7.9 (2H, d).

3C NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 5 13.96,22.44,28.45,55.70,114.71,129.95,131.62, 138.91,143.43,164.11,170.45.

Example 2 (E)-3- (Toluene-4-sulphonyl)-2-propylacrylic acid 2-Propylacrylic acid (5.0 g, 43.80 mmol) was added to a solution of toluene-4- sulphonyl iodide (14.32 g, 65.70 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 ml). The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature and then cooled to 0°C. Triethylamine (12.2 ml, 87.6 mmol) was added and the solution was stirred for 1 hour then allowed to warm to room temperature over 2 hours. The organic solution was washed with water (100 ml), IN hydrochloric acid ( (100 ml) 10% aqueous sodium bisulphite (50 ml), then extracted with sodium hydroxide (5g) in water (100 ml). The aqueous layer was washed with ethyl acetate (20 ml) and then acidifed with conc. sulphuric acid (3 ml). The product was extracted into ethyl acetate (2x 50 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 ml), dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give the title compound in 85% yield. This yellow solid was dissolved in methanol (100 ml) and stirred with activated charcoal (1g). Filtration and evaporation gave a pale yellow solid which was slurried in dichloromethane: heptane 20: 80. Filtration gave the title compound as white crystals (8.3 g, 70%).

'H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): 8 1.0 (3H, t), 1.5 (2H, m), 2.5 (3H, 3), 2.8 (2H, dd), 7.25 (1H, s), 7.4 (2H, d), 7.85 (2H, d).

Example 3 (E)-3-Benzenesulphonyl-2-propylacrylic acid Sodiumbenzenesulphinate (11.21 g, 68.27 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 ml).

This solution was shaken with iodine (17.33 g, 68.27 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 ml).

The dichloromethane layer turned from deep pink to orange. The dichloromethane layer was dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered into a flask containing methyl 2- propylacrylate (5.0 g, 39.01 mmol). The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature and then cooled to 0°C. Triethylamine (11 ml, 78.01 mmol) was added and the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature over 2 hours. The mixture was diluted with water and the organic layer was washed with IN hydrochloric acid (75 ml), 10% aqueous sodium bisulphite (75 ml), and brine, then dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give (E)-3-benzenesulphonyl-2-propylacrylic acid methyl ester (9.1 g, 87% yield).

'H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 8 0.95 (3H, t), 1.5 (2H, m), 2.85 (2H, dd), 3.8 (3H, 3), 7.25 (1H, s), 7.65 (5H, m), 7.95 (2H, m).

(E)-3-benzenesulphonyl-2-propylacrylic acid methyl ester (5.0 g, 16.84 mmol) was dissolved in THF/water 3: 1 (20 ml). Lithium hydroxide (0.86 g, 20.49 mmol) was added and the solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. The solvent was evaporated and the mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate (50 ml) and water (40 ml). The aqueous layer was acidifed with 2M H2SO4 (6 ml) and the product was extracted into ethyl acetate (2 x 30 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with 2M H2SO4 (20 ml), brine, dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give the title compound in 83% yield.

'H NMR (400 MHz, CDCI3): 8 1.0 (3H, t), 1.55 (2H, m), 2.8 (2H, dd), 3.5 (3H, 3), 6.95 (lh, bs), 7.25 (1H, s), 7.6 (3H, m), 7.7 (2H, m), 7.95 (2H, m).

Example 4 (E)-2-Propyl-3- [4- (pyridine-4-carbonyl) benzenesulphonyl] acrylic acid Sodium 4- (pyridine-4-carbonyl) benzenesulphinate (3.33 g, 14.04 mmol) was dissolved in water (60 ml). This solution was shaken with iodine (3.56 g, 34.29 mmol) in dichloromethane (40 ml). The dichloromethane layer turned from deep pink to orange.

The dichloromethane layer was dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered into a flask containing 2-propylacrylic acid (0.8 g, 7.02 mmol). The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature and then cooled to 0°C. Triethylamine (4.0 ml, 28.08 mmol) was added and the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature over 2 hours. The mixture was acidified to pH 4 by addition of 10% citric acid. The layers were separated and the product was extracted with 2M sodium hydroxide (3x 50 ml). The combined aqueous phase was washed with ethyl acetate (50 ml), the acidified to pH 4 with citric acid. The product was extracted into ethyl acetate (2x 50ml), then back into 1M hydrochloric acid (100 ml). The aqueous layer was washed with ethyl acetate (2x 50 ml), then solid sodium hydrogen carbonate was added to pH 4. The product was extracted into dichloromethane (2x 50 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 ml), dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give the title compound (0.60 g, 24%).

'H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO): 5 0.9 (3H, t), 1.45 (2H, m), 2.75 (2H, dd) 7.3 (1H, s), 7.7 (2H, m), 8.05 (2H, m), 8,2 (2H, m), 8.85 (2H, m).

Example 5 (E)-3- (Methoxybenzenesulphonyl)-2- [ (3,4,4-trimethyl-2,5- dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl) propyl] acrylic acid Sodium 4-methoxyphenylsulphinate (10.0 g, 51.49 mmol) was dissolved in water (100 ml). This solution was shaken with iodine (9.8 g, 36.61 mmol) in dichloromethane

(100 ml). The dichloromethane layer turned from deep pink to orange. The dichloromethane layer was dried over magnesium sulphate and filtered into a flask containing sodium 2-carboxy-5- (3,4,4-trimethyl-2, 5-dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl) pent-1-ene-1- sulphinate (6.47 g, 25.74 mmol). The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature and then cooled to 0°C. Triethylamine (11.0 ml, 77.23 mmol) was added and the solution was allowed to warm to room temperature over 2 hours. Sulphuric acid (2M, 50 ml) was added to quench the reaction. The organic phase was washed with 10% aqueous sodium bisulphite (50 ml), then extracted with sodium hydroxide (2M, 3x 50ml). The aqueous layer was washed with dichloromethane (50 ml) and the acidifed with sulphuric acid (2M) to pH 1. The product was extracted into dichloromethane (3x 50 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 ml), dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to give the title compound in 88% yield. This yellow oil was crystallised from MTBE/DCM 40: 1 to give the title compound as a white solid (5.6 g, 51%).

'H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3): 8 1.45 (6H, s), 1.7 (2H, m), 2.85 (2H, m), 2.97 (3H, s), 3.5 (1H, bs), 3.6 (2H, t), 3.9 (3H, s), 7.05 (2H, d), 7.2 (1H, s), 7.85 (2H, d).

Example 6 2- (4-Methoxybenzenesulphonylmethyl) pentanoic acid (E)-3- (4-Methoxybenzenesulphonyl)-2-propylacrylic acid (1.0 g, 3.52 mmol) was dissolved in degassed methanol (15 ml) and [(S, S)-MeDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4 (22 mg, 3.52 x 10-2 mmol) was added under a stream of nitrogen. This solution was injected into the pressure vessel under nitrogen, and then the bomb was charged with hydrogen. The mixture was hydrogenated at 1035 kPa (150 psi) for 2 hour at room temperature. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound (1.0 g, 99% yield). E. e. was determined by chiral HPLC to be 96% [Chirocel OD; 20% IPA-80% heptane; 1 ml/min; 254nm; major enantiomer Rf 10.91 min., minor enantiomer Rf 9.71 min.] 'H NMR (200 MHz, CDC13) : 6 0.9 (3H, t), 1.35 (2H, m), 1.65 (2H, m), 2.9 (1H, m), 3.1 (1H, m), 3.65 (1H, m), 3.9 (3H, s), 7.0 (2H, d), 7.85 (2H, d).

Example 7 2-Benzenesulphonylmethylpentanoic acid (E)-2-Propyl-3-phenylsulphonylacrylic acid (0.3 g, 1.18 mmol) was dissolved in degassed methanol (15 ml) and [ (-EtDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4 (8 mg, 1.18 x 10' mmol) was added under a stream of nitrogen. This solution was injected into the pressure vessel under nitrogen, and then the bomb was charged with hydrogen. The mixture was

hydrogenated at 2070 kPa (300 psi) for 3 hour at room temperature. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound (0.31 g, 100% yield). E. e. was determined by chiral HPLC to be 92% e. e. [Chiropak AD; 5% ethanol-95% heptane; 1 ml/min; 254 nm; major enantiomer Rf 18.46 min., minor enantiomer Rf 15.22 min.] 'H NMR (200 MHz, CDCI3): 8 0.9 (3H, t), 1.3 (2H, m), 1.65 (2H, m), 2.95 (1H, m), 3.15 (1H, m), 3.7 (1H, m), 7.65 (3H, m), 8.0 (2H, d).

Example 8 2- (Toluene-4-sulphonylmethyl) pentanoic acid (E)-2-Propyl-3-p-tolylsulphonylacrylic acid (0.3 g, 1.11 mmol) was dissolved in degassed methanol (15 ml) and [(S, S)-EtDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4 (7 mg, 1.11 x 10-2 mmol) was added under a stream of nitrogen. This solution was injected into the pressure vessel under nitrogen, and then the bomb was charged with hydrogen. The mixture was hydrogenated at 2070 kPa (300 psi) for 3 hour at room temperature. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound (0.29 g, 99% yield). E. e. was determined by chiral HPLC to be 97% e. e. [Chirocel OD; 10% IPA-90% heptane; 1 ml/min; 254nm; major enantiomer Rf 12.87 min, minor enantiomer Rf 11.12 min.] 'H NMR (200 MHz, Ceci3): 8 0.9 (3H, t), 1.3 (2H, m), 1.65 (2H, m), 2.45 (3H, s), 2.9 (1H, m), 3.15 (1H, m), 3.65 (1H, m), 7.4 (3H, m), 7.8 (2H, d).

Example 9 2- [4- (Pyridine-4-carbonyl) benzenesulphonylmethyl] pentanoic acid (E)-2-Propyl-3- [4- (pyridine-4-carbonyl) benzenesulphonyl] acrylic acid was converted into its HBF4 salt on treatment with 1 equivalent of HBF4 in DCM and <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> evaporation to dryness. (E)-2-Propyl-3- [4- (pyridine-4-carbonyl) benzenesulphonyl]-acrylic acid hydrofluoroborate (0.22 g, 0.49 mmol) and [(R, R)-MeDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4 (6 mg, 0.49 x 10-2 mmol) were placed in the pressure vessel under nitrogen, and then the bomb was degassed with hydrogen. Degassed methanol (10 ml) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at 2070 kPa (300 psi) hydrogen for 16 hour at room temperature. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure. The product was treated with aqueous sodium bicarbonate and then citric acid was added until pH 4. The product was extracted into dichloromethane, which was dried over magnesium sulphate and then evaporated to give the title compound (0.15 g, 83% yield). E. e. was determined by chiral HPLC to be 96% e. e.

'H NMR (200 MHz, DMSO): 5 0.9 (3H, t), 1.45 (2H, m), 1.7 (2H, m) 3.0 (2H, bs + m), 3.25 (1H, dd), 3.8 (1H, dd), 7.6 (2H, m), 7.9 (2H, m), 8.05 (2H, m), 8.8 (2H, m), 8.85 (2H, m).

Example 10 3- (4-Methoxybenzenesulphonyl)-2- [3,4,4-trimethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin- 1-yl-propyl] acrylic acid E-3- (Methoxybenzenesulphonyl)-2- [ (3,4,4-trimethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl)- propyl] acrylic acid (1.0 g, 2.36 mmol) and [(R, R)-MeDuPHOS Rh (COD)] BF4 (14 mg, 2.36 x 10-2 mmol) were placed in the pressure vessel under nitrogen, and then the bomb was degassed with hydrogen. Degassed methanol (10 ml) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at 2070 kPa (300 psi) hydrogen for 3 hour at room temperature. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure pressure to give the title compound (1.00 g, 99% yield). E. e. was determined by chiral HPLC to be >97% e. e. [Chirocel AD; 45% IPA/55% heptane/0.1% TFA; 1 ml/min; 215nm ; major enantiomer Rf 8.7 min, minor enantiomer Rf 11.9 min.]