| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing an optically active 3-hydroxyisobutanoic acid ester, capable of efficiently obtaining the optically active 3-hydroxyisobutanoic acid ester in remarkably shortened processes by subjecting an α-hydroxyalkylacrylic acid ester to an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction. SOLUTION: This method for producing an optically active 3-hydroxyisobutanoic acid ester of formula II (* is an asymmetric carbon atom) comprises subjecting an α-hydroxyalkylacrylic acid ester of formula I (R1, R2 are each H or an organic residue) to an asymmetric hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a catalyst preferably comprising the complex of an asymmetric ligand (preferably an asymmetric phosphine) with a transition metal (preferably rhodium, ruthenium, iridium or palladium). It is preferable that the water content of the ester of formula I as the raw material is <=0.5 wt.%. The symmetric hydrogenation reaction is preferably carried out in the coexistence of a stabilizer (for example, a primary or secondary antioxidant and a chelating agent) for the prevention of the polymerization of the ester of formula I. Thereby, the objective compound can efficiently and stably be obtained by in shorter processes. |
