BIOCHEMICAL SEPARATION OF (+)-3-ALKYL SUBSTITUTED-5-HYDROXYMETHYLOXAZOLIDIN-2-ONE

摘要

PURPOSE:To make it possible to readily separate the (+)-isomer from a mixture thereof with (-)-isomer of a 3-alkyl substituted-hydroxymethyloxazolidin-2-one with a high efficiency, by utilizing esterase produced by a microorganism. CONSTITUTION:An organic carbolic acid ester of a mixture of the (+)-isomer with the (-)-isomer of a 3-alkyl substituted-5-hydroxymethyloxazolidin-2-one expressed by the formula (R is alkyl) is brought into contact with esterase produced by a microorganism in a hydrous organic solvent. Thereby, since only the ester bond of the (+)-isomer is selectively hydrolyzed and the (-)-isomer remains unreacted, the (+)-isomer can be selectively separated.