PRODUCTION OF OMEGA-AMINO-ALPHA-HYDROXYCARBOXYLIC ACID

PURPOSE:To readily obtain the subject compound useful as an intermediate for medicines at a low cost by reacting an omega-ester of an alpha-amino acid with nitrous acid under acidic conditions, then reacting the resultant product with ammonia and subsequently reacting the formed product with an active halogen. CONSTITUTION:A compound expressed by formula I (R is 1-7C alkyl or aralkyl; n is 1 or 2), preferably an omega-ester of an L-alpha-amino acid, especially omega-methyl ester of the L-alpha-amino acid is made to react with nitrous acid under acidic conditions, preferably with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal nitrite in an aqueous medium acidic with acetic acid to provide a compound expressed by formula II, which is then reacted with ammonia to afford a compound expressed by formula III. The resultant compound expressed by formula III is further reacted with an active halogen, preferably sodium hypochlorite to readily, efficiently, industrially and advantageously provide the objective optically active compound expressed by formula IV using the inexpensive raw material.