Patent ID: 6946566

Claim:
A process for preparing regioselectively an optically active 1-halogeno-2-hydroxypropyl compound of the following formula; wherein X is halogen atom and Nu is a heteroatom having a substituent, which comprises reacting an optically active epihalohydrin of the formula; wherein X is halogen, with a nucleophilic agent of the formula; Nu—Q (3) wherein Q is hydrogen atom or silicon having a substituent and Nu is the same as defined above, in the presence of a metal complex of the formula; wherein n is an integer of 0, 1 or 2, Y 1 , Y 2 and Y 3 are the same or different, hydrogen atom, halogen atom, nitro group, alkyl group optionally substituted, aryl group optionally substituted, acyl group, or alkoxycarbonyl group, and Y 1 and Y 2 , or Y 2 and Y 3 , taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, may form a ring, A is a counterion and M is a metal ion.