PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE α-FLUOROCARBOXYLATE ESTER

An optically active α-fluorocarboxylate ester can be produced by reacting an optically active α-hydroxycarboxylate ester with sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2), trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride (CF3SO2F) or nonafluorobutanesulfonyl fluoride (C4F9SO2F) in the presence of an organic base and in the absence of a reactive solvent. More preferably, the reaction solution produced after the reaction is completed is added with an acid and is subjected to distillation purification, thereby producing the optically active α-fluorocarboxylate ester with a higher purity. The process enables to produce an optically active α-fluorocarboxylate ester advantageously on a large scale.