BIOCHEMICAL PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE 2-(4-PHENOXYPHENOXY)PROPANE-1-OL

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled compound having high optical purity and the ester of its antipode, by the asymmetric hydrolysis of a specific optically in active compound with an esterase produced by a microbial strain. CONSTITUTION:A 1-18C organic carboxylic acid ester of the optically inactive dl-2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)propane-1-ol is subjected to the asymmetric hydrolysis with an esterase produced by a microbial strain to obtain an optically active 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)propane-1-ol having high optical purity and an ester of its antipode. The 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)progane-1-ol of formula I is an intermedi ate for the novel ether compound of formula II having the activity to control noxious life. The microbial strain is preferably those belonging to Chromobacterium genus or Arthrobacter genus to attain high optical purity.