Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis. 9. Highly Enantioselective Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols Catalyzed by Acylase.1

A new catalytic activity of the enzyme acylase I (AA-I) from Aspergillus species has been found. Although this enzyme had previously been used only in the hydrolysis of N-acylamino acids, we have found that it is a highly efficient catalyst for transesterifications using vinyl esters as acyl donors. The method has been applied to the kinetic resolution of a variety of secondary alcohols.