Process for production of optically active (S)- or (R)-beta-amino acids and optically active (R)- or (S)-beta -amino acid esters, and optically active (S)- or (R)-2-alkoxyethyl esters of beta-amino acids.

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an optically active (S or R)-β-amino acid represented by the formula (II):wherein R represents an alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, cycloalkyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group or heteroaryl group each of which may have a substituent(s), and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom,and an optically active (R or S)-β-amino acid ester represented by the formula (III):wherein R has the same meaning as defined above, R¹ represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent(s), and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom, provided that it has a reverse absolute configuration to that of the compound of the formula (II),which comprises selectively hydrolyzingwater and one of enantiomers of a β-amino acid ester represented by the formula (I):wherein R and R¹ have the same meanings as defined above,which is a racemic mixture, in the presence of a hydrolase in an organic solvent.