PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE ATENOLOL AND ITS INTERMEDIATE

PURPOSE:To readily obtain glycidyl ether suitable as a synthetic intermediate for atenolol useful as a drug in high yield without causing racemization by reacting a specific compound with optically active epichlorohydrin in the presence of an alkali hydroxide. CONSTITUTION:A compound shown by formula I is reacted with optically active epichlorohydrin in a hydrous solvent (e.g. water or methanol) in the presence of an alkali hydroxide at 0-45 deg.C to give a compound shown by formula II (k is asymmetric carbon). The amount of water is preferably 1-20 pts.wt. based on 1 pt.wt. compound shown by formula I. When an organic solvent is added, the ratio of the organic solvent to water is 1:(1-0.0001 (V/V ratio). The amount of the compound shown by formula I 0.5-2.0 mol equivalent based on the optically active epichlorohydrin and the amount of the alkali hydroxide is 1-1.5 equivalent. The compound shown by formula II is reacted with isopropylamine to give atenolol useful as a remedy for angina pectoris, arrhythmia or hypertension.