An enzymatic route to florfenicol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1991-26603

Racemic ethyl threo-3-14-methylthiophenyl)serinate is resolved by enzymatic hydrolysis using protease from Streptomyces griseus and both stereoisomers are converted to D-threo-4,5-dihydro-5-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-2-phenyl-4-oxazolemethan ol, thereby giving a formal synthesis of florfenicol.