A process for preparing an optically active dihydrosphingosine derivative is disclosed, comprising reducing a (2R,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid derivative represented by formula (III): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.3 represents a straight-chain alkyl group having 7 to 21 carbon atoms; and R.sup.4 represents an amino group protecting group, (e.g., (2R,3R)-2-benzylamino-3-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid) with sodium tetrahydroborate in the presence of an acid. The process makes it feasible to produce an optically active dihydrosphingosine at high optical purity and through a simple process that is safe and easy to industrialize.
揭示了一种制备光学活性二氢神经酰胺衍
生物的方法,包括在酸的存在下,用氢化四氢
硼钠还原由式(III)表示的(2R,3R)-2-
氨基-3-羟基烷酸衍
生物:其中R.sup.3代表具有7至21个碳原子的直链烷基基团;R.sup.4代表
氨基保护基团(例如,(2R,3R)-2-苄
氨基-3-羟基十八
碳酸),该过程使得能够以高光学纯度生产光学活性二氢神经酰胺,并通过一个安全且易于工业化的简单过程。