Process for the production of optically-active esters of lactic acid and lactyllactic acid
US9045782B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12P41/003
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for treating a mixture of R,R- and S,S-lactide is provided. The process involves contacting the mixture with an aliphatic alcohol and an enzyme to produce a mixture comprising aliphatic ester of lactic acid corresponding to one lactide enantiomer and the aliphatic ester of lactyllactic acid corresponding to the other lactide enantiomer; separating the mixture from the enzyme, and recycling the enzyme to the process; and separating the aliphatic ester of lactic acid from the aliphatic ester of lactyl-lactic acid by fractional distillation. Also provided are processes for the production of S-lactic acid, S,S-lactide, poly-S-lactic acid, R-lactic acid, R,R-lactide, poly-R-lactic acid and stereocomplex polylactic acid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.