摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optically resolve the subject compound useful as a raw material for medicines and agrochemicals, physiologically active substances, liquid crystals, etc., by reacting racemic chlorohydrins with a cultured solution, microbial cell (treated material), etc., of a microorganism to decompose either one of optical isomers and leave the other isomer. SOLUTION: A racemic chlorohydrin compound [e.g. racemic 4-chloro-3- hydroxybutylonitrile] of the formula [R<1> is H or a lower alkyl; R' is a (substituted) lower alkyl (excluding hydroxymethyl group) when R<1> is H or R<2> is H when R<1> is a lower alkyl group] is reacted with a culture solution, or microbial cell of a microorganism [e.g. Pseudomonas sp. OS-K-29 (FERM BP-994), etc.] or its treated material. Thereby, either one of optical isomers is decomposed and either one of the optical isomers is left to provide the objective optically active chlorohydrin capable of providing chiral building blocks, intermediates, etc., useful in synthesis of optically active compounds such as medicines, agrochemicals, physiologically active substances and ferroelectric liquid crystals. |