Patent ID: 6184008
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: C07C,C12N,C12P

Abstract:
A method for producing an optically active erythro sphingoid ester of the formula I: ##STR4##wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, may be the same or different, represent an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 7 to 31 carbon atoms which may be substituted by one or more hydroxyl groups, andR.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be the same or different and represent an acyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms,which comprises:allowing a racemic mixture comprising the optically active sphingoid ester of the formula I as defined above and its enantiomer to contact with an esterase having an ability to selectively hydrolyze the said enatiomer of the optically active sphingoid ester of the formula I to produce an optically active sphingoid alcohol compound of the formula II: ##STR5##wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the same meaning as defined above, andR.sub.3 *, and R.sub.4 * represent a hydrogen atom and an acyl group having to 7 carbon atoms provide that R.sub.3 *, and R.sub.4 * do not simultaneously represent an acyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; andrecovering the optically active erythro sphingoid ester of the formula I.