PURPOSE: To obtain the subject optically active compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals, etc., under mild reactional condition on an industrial scale at a low cost without lowering the optical purity by hydrolyzing an optically active 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile in an acidic medium.
CONSTITUTION: The objective optically active compound of formula II useful as an intermediate for l-carnitine, antibiotic substance, medicine for hyperlipemia, agent for improving cerebral circulation and metabolism, etc., can be produced in high yield while suppressing side-reactions by (i) hydrolyzing an optically active 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile in an acidic medium preferably with 0.5-12N hydrochloric acid or 0.5-36N sulfuric acid, etc., and (ii) reacting the resultant optically active compound of formula I (* represents asymmetric carbon) with an alcohol of formula ROH (R is 1-5C straight or branched chain alkyl) under acidic condition. The process (ii) is preferably carried out by introducing dried hydrogen chloride gas into the alcohol of formula ROH and adding the optically active compound of formula I to the alcohol.
KITAORI KAZUHIRO
TAKEHIRA KIWA
| JPS63316758A | 1988-12-26 | |||
| JPS61173789A | 1986-08-05 | |||
| JPS5668644A | 1981-06-09 |
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