PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE (S)- OR (R)-β-AMINO ACIDS AND OPTICALLY ACTIVE (R)- OR (S)-β-AMINO ACID ESTERS, 2-ALKOXYETHYL ESTERS OF β-AMINO ACIDS, AND OPTICALLY ACITVE (S)- OR (R)-2-ALKOXYETHYL ESTERS OF β-AMINO ACIDS

摘要

A process for the production of optically active (S)- or (R) -β-amino acids represented by the general formula (II): (II) [wherein R is optionally substituted, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom] and optically active (R)- or (S)-β-amino acid esters represented by the general formula (III): (III) [wherein R and * are each as defined above; and R1 is optionally substituted alkyl, with the proviso that the ester has an absolute configuration reverse to that of the acid (II)], characterized by reacting a racemic β-amino acid ester represented by the general formula (I): (I) [wherein R and R1 are each as defined above] with water in the presence of a hydrolysis catalyst in an organic solvent to hydrolyze one enantiomer of the ester selectively.