| abstract |
A process for producing an L-amino acid of formula (I): <CHEM> wherein R is -CH2CO2H, -CH2CONH2, -CO2H or <CHEM> in which R<1> is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a halogen-substituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which process comprises carrying out an optical resolution of an N-substituted carbonyl-D,L-amino acid of formula (II): <CHEM> wherein R is as defined above and R<2> is an alkanoyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a benzoyl group, a halogen-substituted alkanoyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogen-substituted benzoyl group, or a salt thereof, or a mixture thereof, with cells of a microorganism, a microorganism fermentation broth, a treated microorganism fermentation broth, or a mixture thereof, said microorganism being selected from the bacteria of the genera Serratia, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Flavobacterium Achromobacter and Alcaligenes and actinomycetes of the genera Actinoplanes, Streptosporangium and Sebekia. |