Esterase and its use for the production of optically active chroman compounds

摘要

Optically active chroman-3-acetic acids and optically active chroman-3-acetic acid esters can be obtained by treating a mixture of (3R)- and (3S)-chroman-3-acetic esters of formula (I) Äwherein R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms and R2 is a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted amino groupÜ is treated with an esterase which has an optically selective hydrolyzing activity or microorganisms which carry said hydrolase, or a preparation therefrom. A novel esterase derived from bacteria of genus Pseudonocardia can also be used as said esterase.