Enzyme Assisted Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure δ-Lactones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)80146-9

Both enantiomers series of a wide variety of optically pure 6-alkylated δ-lactones - saturated as well as unsaturated - were prepared via an enzyme mediated route.The key reaction step is the nucleophilic ring opening of enantiomerically pure alkyl-oxiranes, accessible via the corresponding β-hydroxythioesters which can be obtained enantiomerically pure via enzyme catalyzed kinetic resolutions.