Selective reduction of spinosyn factors Et-J and Et-L to spinetoram
View Patent ↗Spinetoram is selectively produced in excellent yields by hydrogenating a mixture of 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn J and 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn L in a water miscible organic solvent using hydrogen gas and a heterogeneous catalyst.
1. A process for producing spinetoram which comprises:
hydrogenating a mixture comprising about 50-90% by weight of 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn J and about 50-10% by weight of 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn L, in a water miscible organic solvent, with hydrogen gas at a pressure between 2 and 3000 psig, in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst capable of selectively reducing the 5,6-double bond of 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn J, until the 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn J is converted to 3′-O-ethyl-5,6-dihydro-spinosyn J.
2. A process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is isopropyl alcohol.
3. A process of claim 1 wherein the heterologous catalyst is 5% Rh/Al 2 O 3 or 5% Pd/C.