Patent ID: 6087526
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for producing an optically active 2-hydroxy-4-arylbutyric acid of formula (III): ##STR6## wherein: R.sup.2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, and* represents an asymmetric carbon atom,which comprises the following steps:a) catalytically reducing the carbonyl group in the 4-position of an optically active 2-acyloxy-4-oxo-4-arylbutyric acid of formula (II): ##STR7## wherein: R.sup.1 represents a linear, branched, or cyclic aliphatic acyl group having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms, wherein the acyl group is unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen atom, or is an aromatic acyl group having from 7 to 11 carbon atoms, andR.sup.2 and * are as defined above; andb) eliminating the acyl group.