Process for preparing L- alpha -methylphenyl alanines

摘要

Biochemical optical resolution of DL- alpha -methylphenyl alanines in which DL- alpha -methylphenyl alanine amides are interacted with the culture products, or their treated products, of a microorganism capable of producing amidase is described. L- alpha -methylphenyl alanines having the general formula (I): <IMAGE> [I] wherein R1 and R2 may be independently a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl groups, or R1 and R2 may be alkylene groups combined together to form 5 through 8-membered rings is produced by the steps of: (a) making a DL- alpha -methylphenyl alanine amide having the general formula (II): <IMAGE> [II] wherein R1 and R2 are the same as defined above, interact with the culture product of a microorganism capable of producing enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of L-isomer of DL- alpha -methylphenyl alanine amides or the treated product thereof, whereby asymmetric hydrolysis of an L- alpha -methylphenyl alanine amide is effected; and (b) separating the resultant L- alpha -methylphenyl alanines from the hydrolysis mixture.