Lipase from Candida antarctica, commercially available immobilised on
acrylic resin as Novozym(R) 435, allows for enantioselective esterific
ation of racindoprofen (+/-)-1, with methanol in a dioxane-toluene sol
vent system. A double esterification process affords methyl ester (-)-
(R)-2 in 85% e.e. and enantiopure (+)-(S)-1, both in good chemical yie
ld. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.