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Abstract

A process for producing an optically active alcohol comprising carrying out interesterification between a racemic alcohol and an ester selected from the group consisting of (a) a diester between a lower monohydric alcohol and a saturated dicarboxylic acid having 14 or more carbon atoms, (b) a triglyceride of a saturated fatty acid having 16 or more carbon atoms, and (c) a monoester between a lower monohydric alcohol and a saturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms in the presence of lipase, preferably heat-resistant lipase, and in the presence or absence of a solvent, preferably in the absence of a solvent, under a substantially water-free condition, separating an optically active alcohol rich in either one of R-and S-forms from the reaction mixture, and adding an optically inactive non-racemic alcohol to the residue of the previous step to carry out interesterification under the same conditions as in the previous reaction to separate the other enantiomer. According to the present invention a racemic alcohol can easily be resolved into each enantiomer with high purity in good yield.

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First Claim