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.