The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active
2-allylcarboxylic acid derivative, which is useful as a pharmaceutical
intermediate, from readily available and inexpensive starting materials
by the process which can be practiced on a commercial scale in a simple
and easy manner, and certain 2-allylcarboxamide derivatives, which are
novel and important intermediates in that process.An N-allylcarboxamide
derivative undergoes rearrangement reaction diastereoselectively in the
presence of a base to give a 2-allylcarboxamide derivative, the resulting
derivative is subjected to a carbamation reaction and solvolysis to give
an optically active 2-allylcarboxylic acid ester, and then the ester
obtained is stereoselectively hydrolyzed using an enzyme to produce
2-allylcarboxylic acid having a high optical purity. In addition, the
present invention provides a 2-allylcarboxamide derivative compound which
is a novel intermediate in the process of the present invention.