PREPARATION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE 2,2-DISUBSTITUTED 5-HYDROXYCHROMENES BY ENZYMATIC RESOLUTION OF RACEMIC ESTERS

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic esters of 2,2-disubstituted 5-hydroxychromenes was examined. Transesterification of acetate using Amano Lipase PS in the presence of t-BuOH was most effective to give the corresponding optically active acetate in 18% yield and 95% ee. The absolute configuration of the acetate was determined as R based on the conversion to teretifolione B with natural absolute configuration.