Patent ID: 6713290
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: C07B,C07D,C12P

Abstract:
A process for producing optically pure (S)-3-hydroxy-&ggr;-butyrolactone expressed by Formula 1 from polysaccharide source, comprising:(a) enzymatic reaction of starch to &agr;-(1,4) linked oligosaccharide expressed by Formula 2; (b) oxidation of the oligosaccharide with an oxidant in a base to prepare a metal salt of (S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid expressed by Formula 3, wherein said oxidation comprises adding the oxidant and the base continuously over the course of the reaction; and (c) cyclization of the prepared salt of (S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid in the presence of an acid catalyst without additional separation and purification process to form (S)-3-hydroxy-&ggr;-butyrolactone expressed by the Formula 1, wherein R represents an alkali metal atom or an alkaline earth metal atom.