Anhydrides as Acylating Agents in Lipase-Catalyzed Stereoselective Esterification of Racemic Alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00258a024

A new enzymatic method for the resolution of optically active alcohols from racemates is reported.It involves lipase-catalyzed esterification in organic solvents, with acetic, propionic, or butyric anhydrides as acylating agents.Lipase Amano P, from Pseudomonas fluorescens, adsorbed on Celite 577, was employed as stereoselective catalyst.Under these reaction conditions, the enzyme is not chemically modified by the anhydrides.A number of primary and secondary alcohols have been obtained in high optical purity by this procedure.