Process for preparing opticaly active 2-(4-hydroxy- phenoxy)propionic acid compounds

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for preparing an optically active 2-(4hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid compound which comprises reacting, an optically active compound having the formula: wherein X is a chlorine atom or a bromine atom and M is a, hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom with hydroquinone or an, alkali metal salt of hydroquinone in the presence of an alkali, metal hydroxide and water and precipitating optically active, disodium 2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionate. The compounds produced by the process are intermediates in the preparation of excellent herbicides.