| abstract |
Provided is a process for preparing L-carnitine or acetyl L-carnitine hydrochloride. Specifically, the process comprises sequentially synthesizing racemic 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile and racemic 4-chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid alkyl ester under specific reaction conditions, using racemic epichlorohydrin as a starting material, preparing (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid alkyl ester from stereoselective hydrolysis of the racemic 4-chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid alkyl ester using an enzyme, and preparing L-carnitine or acetyl L-carnitine hydrochloride from the (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid alkyl ester, according to the known method. |