摘要 |
A process for producing optically active 2-halo-1-(substituted phenyl)ethanol of a formula (Ia) or optically active styrene oxide of a formula (Ib). The process comprises the steps of reacting a compound of a formula (II) with phthalic anhydride to give a compound of a formula (III), performing optical resolution on the resulting compound using an optically active organic amine as a resolving agent, and finally performing hydrolysis or alcoholysis on the optically resolved compound (Ia) or (Ib). The scheme of the above process is: <CHEM> wherein X represents a halogen atom, Y represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 alkoxy group, a C1-C6 haloalkyl group or a C1-C6 haloalkoxy group, Z represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group, n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3 and m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 2. The resulting optically active compounds are useful as an intermediate for medicines. |