PROCESS FOR PREPARING 1,3-DIOXOLANE-4-METHANOL COMPOUNDS

摘要

A process for preparing 1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol compounds in a racemic modification form and an optically active form having a high purity in a high yield in a simple and cost-effective manner. The process comprises reacting a 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol (1a) (wherein X represents a halogen atom) or a glycidol with an alcohol in the presence of a base, acetalating the resultant 3-alkoxy-1,2-propanediol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and further conducting hydrogenation in the presence of a reduction catalyst to prepare a 1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol compound (5) (wherein R<1> and R<2> represent each hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group, or R<1> and R<2> together with the adjacent carbon atom may form a three- to six-membered ring).