Patent ID: 7208609

Claim:
A method for producing racemic, R- or S-thioctic acid or mixtures thereof of the general formula III, characterized in that the solution of a sulfide of the general formula VI is metered into a mixture consisting of suspended sulfur and a solution of a racemic, (R)- or (S)-6,8-disubstituted octanoic acid, the corresponding alkali metal salts, alkyl esters and mixtures of the general formula I, in which X, Y, R and R′ have the meanings stated below, and then, optionally during or after the hydrolysis of an ester II formed as an intermediate, a sulfite of the general formula VII is allowed to act. X, Y=Cl, Br, OSO 2 R′ II R=C 1-4 -alkyl R′=C 1-4 -alkyl, aryl III R=H R=H, K, Na, C 1-4 -alkyl M 2 S M′ 2 SO 3 VI VII M=K, Na, NH 4 M′=K, Na, NH 4 , Mg/2, Ca/2, Ba/2