This invention provides a process for producing optically active 2-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-4-yl]acetic
acid derivatives, which are of value as intermediates of drugs, from inexpensive
starting materials without using any special equipment such as that required for
super-low temperature reactions.
A process for producing optically active 2-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-4-yl]acetic
acid derivatives which comprises
- reacting an acetic acid derivative at a temperature of not less than
-30 C. with an enolate prepared by permitting either a base or a metal having
a valency of 0 to act on the derivative to produce a hydroxyoxohexanoic acid derivative,
- reducing this compound with the aid of a strain of microorganism to
provide a halomethyldioxanylacetic acid derivative,
- treating this compound with an acetalizing agent in the presence of
an acid catalyst to provide a halomethyl-dioxanylacetic acid derivative,
- reacted with an acyloxylating agent to provide a acyloxymethyldioxanylacetic
acid derivative, and
- subjecting this compound to solvolysis in the presence of a base.
