Process for producing 4,4,4,-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid

Abstract

A process for producing an optically active perfluoroalkylcarbinol by reacting an optically active imine with a hemiacetal or hydrate of a perfluoroalkylaldehyde to obtain a condensate, and hydrolyzing the condensate under acidic conditions. Optical purity of optically active 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxy-1-aryl-1-butanone compounds may be increased by precipitating and removing a racemic crystal, and also recrystallizing the compound. Novel compounds include optically active and inactive 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutanoic aryl esters. A process for producing optically active or incactive 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid aryl esters includes oxidizing an optically active or inactive 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxy-1-aryl-1-butanone. Optical purity of optically active aryl esters may be increased by recrystallization. Optically active 4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butanediol may be produced by reducing the optically active aryl ester with a hydride. Optically active or inactive 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid alkyl esters are produced by reacting optically active or inactive aryl esters with lower alcohols under acid conditions.