A new highly-enantioselective synthetic process for producing (S)-2-hydroxybutyric acid methyl ester

(S)-2-aminobutyric acid being initial raw material, (S)-2-hydroxybutyric acid methyl ester was synthesized by means of a three step reaction of hydroxylation, salification and esterification. The product had a yield rate of 60.4%, purity of 99% and ee value higher than 99% by characterization of GC, HPLC and 1H NMR. This synthesis technique has advantages of high purity and ee value, low cost, short reaction time and mild reaction conditions so that it is suitable for production on industrial scale.