PURPOSE: To produce the titled optically active compound useful as an intermediate of coronary vasodilator, by reacting the novel optically active 3-(p-alkoxyphenyl)glycidic acid alkali metal salt with an alkyl halide, etc.
CONSTITUTION: The optically active compound of formula I (A is OR3 or SR3) can be produced economically, by reacting the novel optically active compound of formula VI (R1 is alkoxy; M is alkali metal) with the compound of formula R2X1 (R2 is alkyl; X1 is halogen) or formula R3SCOX2 (R3 is alkyl or aryl; X2 is halogen). The above novel substance of formula VI is obtained by (1) hydrolyzing the racemic compound of formula III (R is lower alkyl), (2) neutralizing the obtained racemic compound of formula IV (M is alkali metal), and (3) subjecting the obtained racemic compound of formula V to optical resolution with an optically active amine. The optically active compound of formula IIuseful as the above drug can be produced from the optically active compound of formula I with little reagent loss, in high efficiency.
YOSHINAGA JIYUNJI
MASAGAKI TAKESHI
