Enzymic preparation of enantiomerically pure secondary alcohols. Ester synthesis by irreversible acyl transfer using a highly selective ester hydrolase from Pseudomonas sp.; an attractive alternative to ester hydrolysis

A series of secondary alcohols [(R)- and (S)-(1)–(3) and (5)–(9)] of interest as attractive chiral auxiliaries were prepared in high chemical and optical yields via enzymic esterification under essentially anhydrous conditions by employing a highly selective ester hydrolase from Pseudomonas sp. and vinyl acetate as acyl donor.