An object of the present invention is to provide a process for the production
of an optically active amino alcohol, particularly an optically active amino alcohol
of a trans-form, being excellent in economy and efficiency, and suitable for industry
using easily available and less expensive materials.
The present invention relates to a process for the production of an optically
active amino alcohol comprising the steps that an optically active hydroxy ester
in a trans-form obtained by an asymmetric hydrogenation of an easily available
-keto ester is reacted with hydrazine, the resulting optically active hydrazinocarbonyl
alcohol is subjected to a Curtius rearrangement in the presence of alcohol and
protective group of amino group of the resulting optically active alkoxycarbonylamino
alcohol is deprotected. As a result of the process for the production in accordance
with the present invention, the objected substance is able to be prepared in a
high optical purity and in a high yield.