CONVENIENT PRACTICAL RESOLUTION OF RACEMIC ALKYL-ARYL ALCOHOLS VIA ENZYMATIC ACYLATION WITH SUCCINIC ANHYDRIDE IN ORGANIC SOLVENTS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)80122-6

Enantiomerically pure alkyl-aryl secondary alcohols were conveniently obtained on a kilogram scale from their racemic mixtures by enzymatic acylation with succinic anhydride in organic solvents.A major advantage of this acylation method is the ease of separating the ester from the unreacted alcohol.This is achieved by extracting the organic solution with aqueous NaHCO3 after the enzymatic reaction is completed.