Process for the preparation of optically active carboxylic acids

摘要

Preparation of optically active carboxylic acids of the general formula I <IMAGE> in which Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or naphthyl group, n can be zero or 1 and R<1> represents a hydrocarbon radical having 1-6 C atoms, by reacting a statistically stereoisomeric anhydride I', which has been prepared from racemic I, with an optically active alcohol in organic solution and in the presence of a tertiary organic base, the optically active alcohol used being a 1-pyridylalkanol of the general formula II <IMAGE> in which R<1> represents a C1-C4-alkyl group and which simultaneously acts as the base.