Preparation of homochiral (S)- and (R)-1-(2-furyl)ethanols by lipase-catalyzed transesterification

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0957-4166(96)00088-2

1-(2-Furyl)ethanol 1 was resolved by irreversible transesterification with vinyl acetate using Lipozyme IM or Porcine Pancreas Lipase (PPL) in an organic solvent. (S)-alcohol (99% e.e.) was obtained in 80-85% yield using Lipozyme IM in carbon tetrachloride while (R)-1-(2-furyl)ethyl acetate (96% e.e.) in 75-80% yield resulted from transesterification using Lipozyme IM in hexane or PPL in tetrahydrofuran.