Process for separating optically active 1-hydroxy-cyclopentane methanol derivatives using lipase from candida or pseudomonas

Abstract

In the present invention, an optically active cis type 1,2-diol derivative of the following formula (I) is produced by reacting a cis type 1,2-diol derivative of the formula (I) with a carboxylic acid derivative of the formula (II) in the presence of a lipase: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, X represents a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, an alkyl group, a haloalkyl group, or a phenyl group, and n represents an integer of from 0 to 5; R.sup.3 represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl group or an aryl group, and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl group, or COR.sub.3. The cis type means that the bond between the cyclopentane ring and the hydroxy group and the bond between the cyclopentane ring and the benzyl group reside in the same direction as that portrayed on the paper. The optically active cis type 1,2-diol derivative is used as an intermediate for producing an optically active cis type azole derivative of the formula (VII).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.