Kinetic resolution of racemic cyclic sulfoxides using hydrolytic enzymes

Selected racemic trans-2-alkoxycarbonyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran S-oxides 2 a-h have been subjected to enzyme-assisted hydrolysis under conditions of k inetic resolution to give the corresponding acids and recovered esters with moderate to high enantiomeric purities (up to 95%). The enantioselectivity of the reaction was found to be strongly dependent on the structures of th e substrates used.