Enzymatic synthesis of a chiral building block for perhydrofuro[2,3b]furans

Abstract

2-Methoxy-3-carbomethoxytetrahydrofuran (3 is a building block for perhydrofuro[2,3b]furans. Compound 3 was resolved by transesterification with butanol using the lipase of Candida cylindrucea suspended in dry octane. The resulting mixture of methyl- and butylesters was separated by preparative gas chromatography. In this way 7-8 g of enantiomerically pure material (> 98% e.e) could be obtained in almost 100% yield. © 1992, IUPAC