PRODUCTION OF OPTICAL ACTIVE 3-SUBSTITUTED-(2- HYDROXYALKYL)INDOLE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject optically active 3-substituted-(2-hydroxyalkyl) indole of high optical purity that is useful as a raw material for medicines or the like by bringing a specific 3-substituted indole bearing a carbonyl group into contact with a culture mixture of a microorganism in Nocardia or the like capable of converting a compound bioreductively. SOLUTION: A substrate represented by formula I (R1 is a lower alkyl; R2 is H, a lower alkyl; R3 and R4 are each H, a substituent that has no adverse effect on the bioreductive conversion) is brought into contact with a culture mixture of at least one selected from the group consisting of microorganisms that can bioreductively convert this substrate into 3-substituted indole represented by formula II, selected from the group of Nocardia, Aspergillus and Sclerotinia to obtain the objective 3-substituted indole of high purity that is represented by formula II and is useful as a precursor of a compound having the action to stimulateβ-adrenaline receptor.