Enzyme-catalysed approach to the preparation of triazole antifungals: synthesis of (-)-genaconazole

The work describes a new enzyme-mediated approach to optically active epoxide (2R,3S)-6, which is an important key intermediate in the preparation of single enantiomers of chiral azole antifungals. The conversion of (2R,3S)-6 into (-)-genaconazole is reported as an example of its synthetic relevance. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.