Method for producing optically active chroman-carboxylate

A method for producing an optically active chromancarboxylate, comprising a step of esterifying a racemic chromancarboxylic acid in an organic solvent comprising an alcohol in the presence of a biocatalyst, the racemic chromancarboxylic acid being represented by the formula 1:

• wherein R is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a cyano group, a chloromethyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxymethyl group, a carboxyethyl group, a carboxyphenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and a plurality of R groups, if any, may be the same or different;
• X is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, an amino group, a cyano group, a chloromethyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxymethyl group, a carboxyethyl group, a carboxyphenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group with the proviso that at least one X is a carboxyl group, a carboxymethyl group, a carboxyethyl group or a carboxyphenyl group, and a plurality of X groups, if any, may be the same or different;
• m is an integer of from 1 to 5;
• and n is an integer of from 0 to 4.