ENZYMATIC LACTONISATION OF γ-HYDROXYESTERS IN ORGANIC SOLVENTS. SYNTHESIS OF OPTICALLY PURE γ-METHYLBUTYROLACTONES AND γ-PHENYLBUTYROLACTONE.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)96406-2

Porcine pancreatic lipase in anhydrous organic solvents catalyses the lactonisation of a number of esters of γ-hydroxyacids in nearly quantitative yields.This enzymatic process was used for the highly stereoselective synthesis of (S)-(-)-γ-methylbutyrolactone, (R)-(+)-γ-methylbutyrolactone and of optically active γ-phenylbutyrolactone.