HOMOCHIRAL GLYCEROL DERIVATIVES BY LIPASE-CATALYZED RACEMATE RESOLUTION

Various aspects of enzyme-catalysed racemate resolution are discussed by using examples from hydrolysis of butanoates of glycerol derivative s. Primary esters of various 1,2-ketals gave low enantioselectivity (E ). The results with secondary esters varied. The highest E value (>100 ) was obtained when the primary ether groups mere methyl and phenyleth yl. For the corresponding methyl, phenyl diether E was observed to inc rease as the hydrolysis proceeded. The stereochemistry of the products agree with a proposed model for lipases.