Method for producing optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1, 2-propanediol taking advantage of microorganism

1. A method for obtaining optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol, the method comprising:

a first step of letting at least one kind of microorganism or processed product thereof having an ability to leave untouched (R)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol or (S)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol in the presence of an enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture act on an enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture; and

a second step of recovering the untouched optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is at least one kind of microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and having an ability to leave untouched (R)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol in the presence of an enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture, and the optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol obtained is (R)-3 -chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas is at least one kind of microorganism selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas sp. DS-K-436-1 (International Deposition No: FERM BP-7079) and Pseudomonas sp. OS-K-29 (International Deposition No: FERM BP-994).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is at least one kind of microorganism that is selected from the group consisting of microorganisms belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and microorganisms belonging to the genus Alcaligenes and that has an ability to leave untouched (S)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol in the presence of an enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture, and the optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol obtained is (S)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the microorganism is at least one kind of microorganism selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas sp. DS-SI-5 (International Deposition No: FERM BP-7080), Pseudomonas nitroreducens DS-S-RP8 (International Deposition No: BP-7793), and Alcaligenes sp. DS-S-7G (International Deposition No: FERM BP-3098).

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first step is carried out under aerobic conditions.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the first step, the pH of the reaction system is 4 to 6.5.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture is obtained by ring-opening hydrolyzing an enantiomeric 2-methyl-epichlorohydrin mixture under acidic conditions created by sulfuric acid.

9. A method for obtaining optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol, comprising:

providing a culture medium in which at least a microorganism or processed product thereof having an ability to leave untouched (R)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol or (S)-3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol is cultured, wherein an enzyme having an ability to stereoselectively decompose a 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol isomer is present in or around the microorganism or processed product thereof;

introducing an enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture as a substrate into the culture medium to contact the enzyme and the enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture, thereby stereoselectively decomposing a 3-chloro-2- methyl-1,2-propanediol isomer in the enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture; and

recovering untouched optically active 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol present in the enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas sp. DS-K-436-1 (International Deposition No: FERM BP-7079), Pseudomonas sp. OS-K-29 (International Deposition No: FERM BP-994), Pseudomonas sp. DS-SI-5 (International Deposition No: FERM BP-7080), Pseudomonas nitroreducens DS-SRP8 (International Deposition No: BP-7793), and Alcaligenes sp. DS-S-7G (International Deposition No: FERM BP-3098).

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the decomposition reaction is carried out under aerobic conditions by aeration.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the decomposition reaction is carried out at a pH of 4 to 6.5.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the substrate is introduced in a concentration of about 0.1% (v/v) to about 20% (vlv).

14. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising ring-opening hydrolyzing an enantiomeric 2-methyl-epichlorohydrin mixture under acidic conditions created by sulfuric acid to obtain the enantiomeric 3-chloro-2-methyl-1,2-propanediol mixture.