(+/-)-Azamacrolides were synthesized via lipase-catalyzed intramolecular cy
clization of (+/-)-hydroxy-azaesters. Further, the size of the macrocyclic
lactones formed could be altered by the substinuent on the nitrogen atom. T
his allows one to prepare a combinatorial library of azamacrolides from a s
mall number of hydroxy-azaesters using this biocatalytic approach. (C) 1999
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