ENZYMATIC OPTICAL RESOLUTION OF N-BENZYL-3-PYRROLIDINOL

The enzymatic optical resolution of racemic N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol (2 ) was investigated. It was found that only (R)-2 was acetylated by the lipase Amano P in yields of 50% and 100%e.e. Remaining (S)-alcohol 2 could be chemically inverted to (R)-acetate 3. A continuous reaction i n a column reactor could be also applied to this optical resolution. A fter concentrating the eluted solution, the residue was subjected to t he inversion reaction to provide (R)-acetate 3 in an 83% yield and 91% e.e. from the racemate.