The invention provides true La(OiPr)3 preferable as a starting material
for an asymmetric synthesis catalyst and a process for producing the same. In this
process, anhydrous lanthanum chloride LaCl3 is reacted with potassium
isopropoxide K(OiPr) in a mixed solvent of isopropanol and toluene, then the isopropanol
is distilled away to replace all the solvent by toluene, then the reaction solution
is left, decanted and filtered to give a transparent filtrate, and the solvent
is distilled away from the filtrate which is then vacuum-dried under heating, whereby
high-purity La(OiPr)3 is obtained in 77% yield. In this high-purity
La(OiPr)3, the La content is 97 to 103% of the theoretical content,
impurity K is 0.3% or less, (Li+Na) is 0.01% or less, Cl is 0.2% or less, and the
degree of association thereof is 5.5 to 6.5.