Preparation of Optically Active α-Hydroxy Ketone Derivatives by Enzyme-Mediated Hydrolysis of Enol Esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)97267-8

A new method of preparation of optically active α-hydroxy ketone derivatives has been developed.Incubation of (Z)-3-propionyloxy-4-benzyloxy-2-pentene (1a) with lipase OF gave optically pure (R)-enol propionate 1a, which in turn was converted without racemization to (R)-ketone 2a by the aid of LiAlH4.