Process for producing propionic acid derivatives

摘要

A process for producing a 2-aralkyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid (or its ester), comprising the steps of: reacting a 3-hydroxy-2-methylene-3-arylpropionic acid ester, easily obtained by the reaction of an arylaldehyde with an acrylic acid ester, with an acid anhydride to form a 2-aralkylidene-3-acyloxypropionic acid ester; subjecting the same to hydrolysis or alcoholysis; and reducing the resulting 2-aralkylidene-3-hydroxypropionic acid or its ester. The reduction step may be conducted in the presence of a base.