Optical Resolution of 1-Arylethanols with a Condensed Aromatic Ring by Lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Enantioselective syntheses of both enantiomers of 1-arylethanols with a condensed aromatic ring have been done through acetylation of the racemic alcohols with vinyl acetate in the presence of a lipase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Toyobo, LIP). The lipase LIP showed high enantioselectivity and reactivity for the title compounds, reacted acetates, and remaining alcohols were obtained with high optical purity.