Method for producing optically active ester of gamma -substituted- beta -hydroxybutyric acid

摘要

Microbial cells and/or a preparation therefrom of a microorganism is allowed to act on an ester of gamma -substituted-acetoacetic acid, and a carbonyl group at its beta -position is stereospecifically reduced, wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of those belonging to the genera Yarrowia, Filobasidium, Metschnikowia, Galactomyces, Ambrosiozyma, Trichosporonoides, Aureobasidium, Phaeococcomyces, Rosulomyces, Dothichiza, Emericellopsis, Calonectria, Colletotrichum, and Ceratocystis, preferably, the microorganism is microorganism belonging to the genus Aureobasidium. Thus an optically active ester of gamma -substituted- beta -hydroxybutyric acid having a high optical purity is produced in a short period of time at a high accumulated concentration and a high yield.