PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE 2-SUBSTITUTED CARBOXYLIC ACID

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for efficiently producing an optically active 2-bromocarboxylic acid and an optically active 2-sulfonyloxycarboxylic acid, which are important in the production of medicinal compounds and so forth. An optically active 2-sulfonyloxycarboxylic acid ester is subjected to deprotection under acid conditions to obtain an optically active 2-sulfonyloxycarboxylic acid. A metal bromide is caused to act on the acid to brominate it with configuration inversion at position 2 to thereby produce an optically active 2-bromocarboxylic acid. The resultant optically active 2-bromocarboxylic acid is isolated/purified by subjecting it to a step in which the acid is crystallized and separated as a salt with a base. Thus, an optically active 2-bromocarboxylic acid having a high chemical purity and high optical purity can be produced.