PURPOSE: To provide a new 4-substituted-2-butanol derivative highly important as an intermediate for synthesizing optically active physiologically active compounds to be used for medicines or pesticides, also easily producible in high optical purity from inexpensive raw materials.
CONSTITUTION: The objective optically active compound of R-modification or S-modification of formula I [R1 is H, (substituted) alkyl, (substituted) alkenyl or (substituted) aryl], e.g. (R)-4-phenylthio-2-butanol. This compound can be obtained by (A) making a hydrolase act on a this compound's enantiomer mixture in the presence of water to stereoselectively convert the ester group to hydroxyl group (namely, 4-substituted-2-butanol of R-modification is formed with the ester of S-modification left intact in the reaction system), or (B) bringing a compound of formula II into contact with an ester of formula III (R3 is R1 except H) in the presence of a hydrolase. The present hydrolase acts specifically on compounds of (R)-configuration among 4-substituted-2-butanol derivatives.
ISHIKAWA TAKAHIRO
ANDO TAKAHIRO
