Enzymatic resolution of butanoic esters of 1-phenyl, 1-phenylmethyl, 1-[2-phenylethyl] and 1-[2-phenoxyethyl] ethers of 3-methoxy-1,2-propanediol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)80077-4

The enzymatic hydrolysis of butanoic esters of 1-phenyl-, 1-phenylmethyl-, 1-[2-phenylethyl] and 1-[2-phenoxyethyl] ethers of 3-methoxy-1,2-propanediol has been studied by using lipases. Highest enantioselectivity E was obtained with amano PS lipase for the phenyl ether E ~ 55, and with lipase B from Candida antarctica for the other derivatives, E ~ 20, >100 and >55 respectively. The absolute configurations of the products were verified from comparison with reference compounds synthesised from (S)-epichlorohydrin or (S)-glycidol.