(S)-(-)-Nadifloxacin [(S)-(-)-9-fluoro-6, 7-dihydro-8-(4-hydroxy-1-piperidyl)-5-methyl-1-oxo- 1H, 5H-benzo [i, j] quinolizine-2-carboxylic acid,(S)-(-)-OPC-7251], an antibacterial agent, was synthesized from (S)-(-)-5, 6-difluoro-2-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinoline (DFTQ), which was prepared by the optical resolution of recemic DFTQ with 2, 3-di-O-benzoxyl-L- tartaric acid. Racemization of the undesired enantiomer [(R)-(+)-DFTQ] was studied in the ...