Process for preparing optically active threonine

Abstract

A process for preparing optically active threonine is disclosed, which comprises asymmetrically hydrogenating a 2-N-acylaminoacetoacetic ester represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group, a phenyl group substituted with a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group, a benzyl group, or a benzyl group substituted with a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a phenyl group, a phenyl group substituted with a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group, a benzyloxy group, or a benzyloxy group substituted with a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxy group, in the presence of a ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex as a catalyst to obtain an optically active threonine derivative represented by formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined above, and then hydrolyzing the compound of formula (II). The 2-N-acylaminoacetoacetic ester intermediate can be selectively prepared in a high yield. Either natural type threonine or non-natural type threonine can be prepared selectively by selecting the absolute configuration of the ligand of the ruthenium-optically active phosphine complex.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.