| abstract |
PURPOSE: To obtain 1-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)propan-2-ol in high yield and optical purity, by treating an organic carboxylic acid ester with an esterase produced by a specific microbial strain or an esterase originated from wheat embryo, thereby effecting the asymmetric hydrolysis of the carboxylic acid ester. n CONSTITUTION: An esterase produced by a microbial strain belonging to corynebacterium genus, etc. (e.g. corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC-13287) or an esterase originated from wheat embryo is prepared beforehand. The ester of (±)-1-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)-propan-2-ol and an organic carboxylic acid (1W18C saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid) is treated with the esterase. The carboxylic acid ester is asymmetrically hydrolyzed by this treatment, and resolved into the optically active 1-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)propan-2-ol of formula and its antipode. The former compound is separated economically from the mixture. n COPYRIGHT: (C)1986,JPO&Japio |