A process for producing an optically active alcohol having a phenyl group is disclosed, comprising the step of carrying out interesterification between (a) a monoester between a racemic alcohol having a phenyl group and a fatty acid or a diester between a racemic alcohol having a phenyl group and a dibasic acid and (b) an optically inactive non-racemic alcohol having 16 or more carbon atoms in the presence of heat-resistant lipase and in the absence of a solvent under a substantially water-free condition at a temperature of not lower than 81°C under atmospheric pressure or reduced pressure and the step of separating an optically active alcohol having a phenyl group rich in either one of R- and S-forms from the reaction mixture. Use of heat-resistant lipase makes it possible to use high-melting point materials without using any solvent therefor and to perform interesterification at a high temperature thereby completing the reaction in a reduced time. Further, use of a high-melting point and high-boiling point starting material makes it possible to separate an optically active alcohol from the reaction mixture with high purity in high yield by means of a simple purification step taking advantage of a difference in physical properties. In particular, where the interesterification is carried out under reduced pressure, separation and purification of an optically active alcohol can be conducted simultaneously with the reaction progress.
本发明公开了一种具有苯基的光学活性醇的生产工艺、包括以下步骤:在耐热
脂肪酶的存在下,在无溶剂的条件下,在不低于 81℃的温度下,在大气压或减压条件下,将(a)具有苯基的外消旋醇与
脂肪酸之间的单酯或具有苯基的外消旋醇与二元酸之间的二酯和(b)具有 16 个或更多碳原子的光学不活泼的非外消旋醇进行酯化反应。耐热
脂肪酶和无溶剂条件下,在温度不低于 81℃,常压或减压条件下,基本上不含
水,并从反应混合物中分离出具有富含 R 型和 S 型中任一苯基的光学活性醇的步骤。使用耐热
脂肪酶可以使用高熔点材料,而无需使用任何溶剂,并且可以在高温下进行酯化反应,从而在更短的时间内完成反应。此外,使用高熔点和高沸点的起始原料,可以利用物理性质的差异,通过简单的提纯步骤,从反应混合物中分离出高纯度、高收率的光学活性醇。特别是在减压条件下进行酯化反应时,光学活性醇的分离和提纯可与反应过程同时进行。