Process for the preparation of hydroxy acids

US5098841A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ciba-Geigy · US

Inventors

• Oreste Ghisalba · Reinach, CH
• Daniel Gygax · Himmelried, CH
• Rente Lattmann · Binningen, CH
• Hans-Peter Schar · Aesch, CH
• Elke Schmidt · Waldkraiburg, DE
• Gottfried Sedelmeier · Schallstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 2, 1989
• Grant date: Mar 24, 1992
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07K5/06139
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a preferably continuous process for the preparation of R- or S-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid in very high enantiomeric purity, which comprises reducing 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid with the enzyme D-lactate dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus epidermidis or with the enzyme L-lactate dehydrogenase from bovine heart, respectively, in the presence of NAD(H) and formate or ethanol and formate dehydrogenase or alcohol dehydrogenase, respectively. R-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid is a valuable intermediate in the preparation of ACE inhibitors or their precursors.