Effective resolution of 1-phenyl ethanol by Candida antarctica lipase B catalysed acylation with vinyl acetate in protic ionic liquids (PILs)

Herein we report the novel use of essentially anhydrous protic ionic liquids (PILs) as reaction media for performing the smooth kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol by Candida antarctica lipase B (CaLB) catalysed acylation with vinyl acetate at 40 °C. Good rates and high enantioselectivities (92–>99%) were observed with suspensions of both the free enzyme and cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of CaLB.