PRODUCTION OF OXAZOLYL METHANOL COMPOUND

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an oxazolyl methanol compound useful as a production intermediate for agent for the treatment of diabetes in high efficiency and yield with a highly practical method by reducing a specific oxazolyl ester derivative in tetrahydrofuran solvent in the presence of specific reducing agent and activation agent. SOLUTION: The objective compound of formula II [e.g. 2-(5-methyl-2- phenyl-4-oxazolyl)ethanol] is produced by reducing an oxazolyl ester derivative of formula I [R is a (substituted) aromatic hydrocarbon group, a (substituted) alicyclic hydrocarbon group or the like; Me is methyl] [e.g. methyl 2-(5-methyl-2- phenyl-4-oxazolyl)acetate] in tetrahydrofuran solvent in the presence of NaBH4 as a reducing agent and methanol as an activation agent preferably at 40-80 deg.C for 1-2 hr.