PURPOSE: To enable high-yield production of an optically active compound which is useful as a synthetic intermediate for medicines and agrochemicals by enzymatic hydrolysis of an enantiomer mixture of a 4-arylthio-2-butanol carboxylic acid ester in the presence of a hydrolase originating from fungi.
CONSTITUTION: In the presence of a hydrolase originating from fungi such as a lipase originating from Candida antarctica, an enantiomer mixture of a carboxylic ester of 4-arylthio-2-butanol of formula I (R1 is H, a 1-27C alkyl, a 2-17C alkenyl; R2 is phenyl which may be substituted) for example, 4- phenylthiobutyl acetate is hydrolyzed in 50mM phosphate buffer solution containing 1,2-dimethoxyethane (pH=6.5) at 30°C for 21hr in a shaking inculator to give the objective optically active 4-arylthio-2-butanol of formula II and an optically active ester of formula I which are important as a synthetic intermediate for optically and physiologically active compound useful in medicines and agrochemicals.
OHIRA MASATO
WATABE TAKESHI
HAYAKAWA KOICHI
KOJIMA TAKAKAZU
