摘要 |
<p>An object of the present invention is to provide a process wherein 1, 2, 4-butanetriol can be obtained safely, easily and inexpensively without causing problems concerning wastewater. A malic diester, 3-hydroxy- gamma - butyrolactone or 3, 4-dihydroxybutanoate represented by the following formulae (I), or a mixture thereof is reduced with sodium borohydride in an organic solvent to give 1, 2, 4-butanetriol represented by the following formula (II). When an optically active substance is used as the above-mentioned starting compound, substantially no recemization occurs during the reduction, and optically active 1, 2, 4-butanetriol is obtained. <CHEM></p> |