The invention claimed is:
1. A production method of rosuvastatin calcium, comprising (B) a step of converting a compound represented by the following formula (12):
wherein M is an alkali metal element, an alkaline earth metal element or hydrogen, to a compound represented by the following formula (13):
2. The production method according to claim 1 , comprising, prior to said step (B), (Aa) a step of converting a mixture of a compound represented by the following formula (14):
wherein R is a primary alkyl group having 1-8 carbon atoms or a secondary alkyl group having 3-6 carbon atoms, and a compound represented by the following formula (15):
wherein R is as defined above, to a mixture of a compound represented by the following formula (16):
wherein M is an alkali metal element, an alkaline earth metal element or hydrogen, and a compound represented by said formula (12), by hydrolyzing same in the presence of a base.
3. A purification method of rosuvastatin calcium comprising a compound represented by the following formula (12):
wherein M is an alkali metal element, an alkaline earth metal element or hydrogen, comprising (B) a step of converting the compound represented by the formula (12) to a compound represented by the following formula (13):
4. Rosuvastatin calcium comprising not less than 1 ppm and not more than 1000 ppm of a compound represented by the following formula (13):