US 4,916,074 A · Process for producing optically active compounds

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing optically active compounds by a biochemical method in which specific compounds having hydroxyl groups are reacted with esters in the presence of enzymes. The compounds have the following general formula. ##STR1## wherein Y is selected from the group consisting halogen atoms, alkyl groups having 1-3 carbon atoms, cyano groups, and trifluoromethyl groups, W is selected from the group consisting substituted phenyl groups, and halogen atoms, cyano, trifluoromethyl and amino groups and alkylamino and alkyloxycarbonyl groups in which alkyl groups have 1-20 carbon atoms, R is methylene and n is 0 or 1. The enzymes having ability of transesterification reaction is preferably lipase, lipoprotein lipase, esterase and so on, and micro-organisms can be used in the above process.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A process for the production of an optically active ester of an alcohol which comprises reacting a triglyceride with an (R,S)-alcohol of the formula ##STR5## wherein Y is alkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms,

W is a member selected from the group consisting of (1) ##STR6## wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, X.sup.4 and X.sup.5 are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl of 1-20 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-20 carbon atoms, or a group of the formula ##STR7## wherein Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3, Z.sup.4 and Z.sup.5 are hydrogen, halogen, alkyl of 1-20 carbon atoms or alkoxy of 1-20 carbon atoms, and
(2) alkyloxycarbonyl in which the alkyl moiety is of 1-20 carbon atoms,
R is methylene, and
n is 1,
under substantially anhydrous conditions and in the presence of an enzyme obtained from a Pseudomonas species and having the ability to preferentially conduct a transesterification reaction between the triglyceride and the (R,S)-alcohol to effect the transesterification reaction and obtaining the corresponding R- or S-ester of the alcohol.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for producing optically active compounds

Life of this patent

Process for producing optically active compounds

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6