PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICALLY ACTIVE 2-ALKYLCYSTEINE, DERIVATIVE THEREOF, AND PROCESSES FOR PRODUCTION

摘要

A process for producing an optically active 2-alkylcysteine or a salt thereof, characterized by comprising causing cells of a microorganism or a product of treatment of the cells, the microorganism having the ability to stereoselectively hydrolyze the amide bond of a 2-alkyl-L-cysteinamide or a salt thereof, to act on a mixture of the D and L isomers of either a 2-alkylcysteinamide or a salt thereof and then reacting the resultant 2-alkyl-L-cysteine and 2-alkyl-D-cysteinamide with an aldehyde, a ketone, or an acetal or ketal of either to yield a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or salt thereof and a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxamide or salt thereof and thereby efficiently isolate either of the 2-alkyl-L-cysteine or salt thereof and the 2-alkyl-D-cysteine or salt thereof. Also provided is a process for producing a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or salt thereof from a 2-alkylcysteine or salt thereof.