Porcine pancreatic lipase was used in the chemoenzymatic hydrolysis of 2-az
ido-3-hydroxy-3-methylcarbonyloxybutyl acetate The reaction occurred with h
igh regio- and stereoselectivity to give enantiomerically pure (2S.3R)-3-az
ido-2-4-dihydroxy butyl acetate 5 (e.e. > 99%) which was easily converted t
o (2S,3S)-2-amno-3.4-dihydroxybutyric acid 1. an important synthetic interm
ediate in the synthesis of beta -lactam antibiotics and phytosiderophores,
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