Process for the production of optically-active esters of lactic acid and lactyllactic acid

摘要

A process for treating a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide is provided. The process involves contacting the mixture with an aliphatic alcohol and an enzyme in the presence of a ketone solvent to produce a mixture comprising aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer, and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer. Also provided are processes for the production of S-lactic acid, S,S-lactide, poly-S-lactic acid, R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex polylactic acid.

主权项

1. A process for producing an aliphatic ester of lactic acid and an aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid, one of said esters being in the R form and the other being in the S form, comprising:
contacting a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide with an aliphatic alcohol and an enzyme in the presence of a ketone solvent and producing a mixture comprising the aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer (R or S) and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer (S or R).