Facile Chemoenzymatic Preparation of Enantiomerically Pure 2-Methylglycerol Derivatives as Versatile Trifunctional C4-Synthons

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00067a034

Both enantiomers of a series of synthetically valuable 2-methylglycerol derivatives have been prepared with >99percent ee using a chemoenzymatic reaction sequence.The introduction of chirality was achieved by enantioselective esterification of 1,2-O-protected 2-methylglycerol 3 or enantioselective hydrolysis of its butyryl ester 4.The enzymatic reaction proceeded with unusually high selectivity and velocity for a primary alcohol (ester) substrate.