摘要 |
<p>Racemic and optically active alkyl 2-chloropropionates are prepared by reacting the corresponding alkyl lactates with phosgene and decomposing the chloroformates so obtained in the presence of a tertiary base, preferably pyridine. Conveniently, reaction is carried out in a solvent, eg. dichloromethane. The process is particularly useful for preparing optically active alkyl 2-propionates of high purity in which case the chloroformate intermediates, certain of which are novel, are decomposed at a temperature below 60 DEG C, preferably in the range of 20 to 40 DEG C.</p> |