PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE AMINO ALCOHOL

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled compound useful as a synthetic intermediate for pharmaceuticals, in high yield, economically on an industrial scale, by reducing an optically active 2-methyl-3-azidopropionic acid or its ester. CONSTITUTION:The optically active amino alcohol of formula II can be produced by reducing the optically active compound of formula I (R is H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aralkyl) or its ester. The reduction can be carried out either by (1) converting the azido group and the ester or carboxyl group in one step using a metal hydride compound (e.g. lithium borohydride) as a reducing agent or by (2) reducing one of azido group and COOR group and then reducing the other functional group. USE:A synthetic intermediate for the beta-lactam compound of formula III or its derivative.