Bifunctional chiral synthons via biochemical methods. 5. Preparation of (S)-ethyl hydrogen-3-hydroxyglutarate, key intermediate to (R)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid and L-carnitine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)81572-0

Microbial enantioselective hydrolysis of diethyl-3-hydroxyglutarate afforded (S)-ethyl hydrogen-3-hydroxyglutarate, which was transformed into (R)-4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid and L-carnitine, via a Curtius and Hunsdiecker rearrangement, respectively.