Hydrolase‐Catalysed Preparation of Chiral α,α‐Disubstituted Cyanohydrin Acetates

The enzymatic hydrolysis of esters of tertiary alcohols has long been a challenge. In particular their kinetic resolutions have virtually not been addressed. Here we describe the successful kinetic resolution of α,α‐disubstituted cyanohydrin acetates, a type of protected tertiary alcohols that form particularly interesting building blocks in organic synthesis. Utilising Subtilisin A the hydrolysis reaction was (S)‐selective, while Candida rugosa lipase was (R)‐selective. With these commercially available enzymes both enantiomers of the α,α‐disubstituted cyanohydrin acetates are now accessible.