Process for Producing Optically Active 2-Alkylcysteine, Derivative Thereof, and Processes for Production

Abstract

There is provided a process for producing an optically active 2-alkylcysteine or a salt thereof, characterized by allowing cells of microorganism or treated products thereof having an activity of stereoselective hydrolysis of the amide bond of a 2-alkyl-L-cysteinamide or a salt thereof to act on a 2-alkylcysteinamide consisting of a mixture of D- and L-isomers or a salt thereof; and allowing the obtained 2-alkyl-L-cysteine and 2-alkyl-D-cysteinamide to react with an aldehyde or a ketone, or an acetal or ketal thereof, so as to derive therefrom a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof and a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxamide or a salt thereof, thereby efficiently separating and obtaining a 2-alkyl-L-cysteine or a salt thereof, or a 2-alkyl-D-cysteine or a salt thereof. There is also provided a process for producing a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof from the 2-alkylcysteine or a salt thereof.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . A process for producing a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, or an optically active 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, which comprises
 allowing a 2-alkylcysteine represented by the general formula (10) or a salt thereof, an optically active 2-alkyl-L-cysteine represented by the general formula (2) or a salt thereof, or an optically active 2-alkyl-D-cysteine represented by the general formula (7) or a salt thereof to react with an aldehyde or ketone represented by the general formula (4), or an acetal or ketal thereof, so as to derive therefrom a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid represented by the general formula (8) or a salt thereof, or an optically active 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid represented by the general formula (5) or (9) or a salt thereof,   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     where in the general formulas (2), (5), (7), (8), (9) and (10), R represents a C 1-4  lower alkyl; and in the general formulas (4), (5), (8) and (9), each of R 1  and R 2  independently represents hydrogen or a C 1-4  lower alkyl, or R 1  and R 2  bind to each other to form a 5- to 8-membered alicyclic structure, provided that R 1  and R 2  do not simultaneously represent hydrogen. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein said R represents methyl. 
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein said R 1  and R 2  both represent methyl. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein a basic catalyst is used when the 2-alkyl-L-cysteine represented by the general formula (2) or salt thereof, the 2-alkyl-D-cysteine represented by the general formula (7) or salt thereof, or the 2-alkylcysteine represented by the general formula (10) or a salt thereof is allowed to react with the aldehyde or ketone represented by the general formula (4), or an acetal or ketal thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein a dehydrating agent is used when the 2-alkyl-L-cysteine represented by the general formula (2) or salt thereof, the 2-alkyl-D-cysteine represented by the general formula (7) or salt thereof, or the 2-alkylcysteine represented by the general formula (10) or salt thereof, is allowed to react with the aldehyde or ketone represented by the general formula (4), or an acetal or ketal thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the 2-alkylcysteine represented by the general formula (10) or a salt thereof, the 2-alkyl-L-cysteine represented by the general formula (2) or salt thereof, or the 2-alkyl-D-cysteine represented by the general formula (7) or salt thereof, is allowed to react with the aldehyde or ketone represented by the general formula (4), or an acetal or ketal thereof in the presence of an alcohol solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and butanol.