| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently obtain L-phenylacetylcarbinol useful as an intermediate for producing L-ephedrine as physiologically active substance of Ephedra sinica, etc., by culturing a yeast belonging to the genus Saccharomyces in a culture medium containing pyruvic acid and benzaldehyde. SOLUTION: This method for producing the intermediate of L-ephedrine comprises adding pyruvic acid of formula I and benzaldehyde of formula II to a culture medium containing a carbon source, inoculating a yeast (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae) belonging to the genus Saccharomyces into the culture medium, and subsequently fermenting the yeast at 30 deg.C for five hours under stirring. Thus, the objective L-phenylacetylcarbinol of formula IV useful as an intermediate for producing L-ephedrine of formula III which is a physiologically active substance of Ephedra sinica is obtained. |
