Process for producing (2r)-2-propyloctanoic acid and intermediate therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid, which comprises subjecting (2R)-2-hexyloxirane to a two-carbon adding reaction with ring-opening reaction, followed by a protecting reaction of a hydroxyl group to convert it to a compound represented by formula (I): (wherein X represents an optionally protected hydroxyl group) and then subjecting the compound to a one-carbon adding reaction to convert it to (2R)-2-propyloctanamide, followed by recrystallization and hydrolysis. According to the process of the present invention, (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid can be produced by less steps as compared with the conventional method without a dangerous reaction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.