| abstract |
T-butyl (R)-(-)-4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyrate having an optical purity of 99%ee or higher and a process for producing the same are disclosed, the process comprising cyanogenation of a t-butyl (S)-(-)-4-halogeno-3-hydroxybutyrate obtained by enantioselective hydrogenation of a t-butyl 4-halogenoacetoacetate. Recrystallization of the resulting crude product gives the optically active compound with high optical purity. |