PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE 3-HYDROXYPYRROLIDINE DERIVATIVE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To economically obtain the subject compound useful as e.g. an intermediate for medicines and agrochemicals by making microorganisms belonging to e.g. the genus Rhizopus or a stereoselective esterase derived therefrom act on racemic N-benzyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine. SOLUTION: This optically active 3-hydroxypyrrolidine derivative useful as e.g. an intermediate for medicines and agrochemicals is obtained economically by making microorganisms belonging to the genus Rhizopus or Phycomyces or a stereoselective esterase derived therefrom on a (R)- and (S)-N-benzyl-3- acyloxypyrrolidine mixture shown by formula I [X is H, a 1-17C (substituted) alkyl, or alkenyl] to carry out stereoselective hydrolysis of the mixture to effect optical resolution into optically active (S)-N-benzyl-3-hydroxypyrrolidine of formula II and an optically active (R)-N-benzyl-3-acyloxypyrrolidine of formula III stereoscopically antipodal to the compound of the formula II followed by separation and collection of the respective optically active compounds.