Patent ID: 7972836

Claim:
A method for preparing an optically active 4-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline compound [I], which comprises the steps of: treating a racemic 4-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline compound represented by formula [I]: wherein R 1 represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group for the amino group, with an enzyme having an ability of selectively or preferentially acylating one enantiomer of the racemic compound [I] in the presence of an acyl donor to obtain a mixture of a 4-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline compound represented by formula [Ia]: wherein * represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and a 4-acyloxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline compound represented by formula [II]: wherein R 2 represents an acyl group, which is an acylated product of the corresponding enantiomer of the compound [Ia]; and separating the compound [Ia] from the mixture, or separating the compound [II] from the mixture and then subjecting the compound [II] to solvolysis.