Process for preparing optically active 3-hydroxybutane derivatives.

摘要

A process for preparing an optically active 1-substituted-3-hydroxybutane or a derivative thereof of formula (II) or (III) <CHEM> <CHEM> comprises treating with a lipase an ester derivative or racemic 1-substituted-3-hydroxybutene of formula (I), <CHEM> wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or aryloxy group, and R2 is a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsulfonyloxy, aryl-sulfonyloxy, alkylthio, or arylthio group to produce a desired optically active alcohol or acyl-protected compound by selective hydrolysis.