Optimisation of the Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyanohydrin Esters

The base‐ and lipase‐catalysed enantioselective synthesis of cyanohydrin esters was investigated, and the problem of previously reported low yields due to residual water in the reaction mixture was addressed. When the lipase was immobilised on Celite R‐633 as a carrier, both the enantioselectivity and the reaction times for this dynamic kinetic resolution were improved, thus enabling a highly enantioselective synthesis of aromatic and heteroaromatic cyanohydrin acetates.