Patent ID: 8163464

Claim:
A process for preparing a propanoate selected from the group consisting of (a) ethyl (2S)-2-[(1S)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]propanoate, (b) ethyl (2S)-2-[(1R)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethoxy]propanoate, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b), which comprises the steps of (a) supplying a solution of methanol containing 4-hydroxyphenylmethylcarbinol, (b) contacting said solution with an acid ion exchange resin for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to convert substantially all of said carbinol to 4-hydroxyphenylmethylcarbinol methyl ether in solution, (c) replacing the methanol in said ether containing solution with a second solvent, and (d) reacting the ether containing ethyl lactate solution with a suitable acid catalyst for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to form said propanoate.