Lipase-catalyzed irreversible transesterification of 1-(2-furyl)ethanol using isopropenyl acetate

Asymmetric acetylation of racemic 1-(2-furyl)ethanol with the innocu ous ac yl donor isopropenyl acetate catalyzed by lipases in organic media afforded the chiral alcohol and acetate in high enantiomeric excess (up to 99%). Th e effect of molecular sieves as well as organic solvents on the kinetic res olution were studied. An effective separation of the enantiomers of both su bstrate and product was performed using gas chromatography on the chiral st ationary phase heptakis-(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl) -beta -cyclo dextrin. Chirality 13:118-123, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss. Inc.