Starting from (R)-3-hydroxy-2-(p-methoxybenzyl)propyl acetate (R-(+)-4
) prepared by enzymatic monoacetylation of 2-(p-methoxybenzyl)propane-
1,3-diol (3) with lipase PS in the presence of vinyl acetate as an ace
tyl donor, lactones ((+)- and (-)-6) were obtained. Using the lactones
, (+)- and (-)-eptazocine were synthesized.