Method for producing optically active compound

A method for producing an optically active β-hydroxy ester compound represented by the general formula:

• wherein
• R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group,
• R2 represents a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, which is represented by the general formula:
• wherein the ring may be substituted, and may have one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consistinig of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and a nitrogen atom in addition to the nitrogen atom in the formula, and may have one or more double bonds in addition to the double bond in the formula;
• or the general formula:
• wherein the ring may be substituted, and may have one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and a nitrogen atom in addition to the nitrogen atom in the formula, and may have one or more double bonds in addition to the double bond in the formula,
• R3 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group,
• R4 and R5 are the same or different, and represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, or R4 and R5 may be taken together to form a ring, wherein said ring may be substituted,
• the symbol “*” represents an optically active center, or a salt thereof, which comprises reacting, in the presence of a cinchona alkaloid selected from the group consisting of cinchonine, cinchonidine, quinine and quinidine or a salt thereof, a compound represented by the general formula:
• wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above or a salt thereof with a compound represented by the general formula:
• wherein R3, R4 and R5 are as defined above, and X is a halogen atom, or a polymer thereof or a salt thereof.