PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE 3-HYDROXYTETRAHYDROFURAN BY ENZYMATIC METHODS AND ESTER THEREOF

摘要

PURPOSE: A process of preparing the optically active 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran by esterification of racemic 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran with lipase in the presence of an organic solvent and an acyl donor is provided which produces the compound in a simple manner and at low cost. CONSTITUTION: The optically active 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran is prepared by reaction of racemic 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran with lipase in the presence of an organic solvent and an acyl donor. The organic solvent is hexane, vinyl acetate, ethyl acetate or methylene chloride and the acyl donor is ethyl acetate or vinyl acetate. The process has the advantage of easily preparing a compound having a high optical purity and hardly generating problems of waste catalysts.