Stereoselective synthesis of novel tetrahydroxypyrrolizidines

N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-3,4-O-isopropylidene-l-ribose 12a has been converted into (1R,2S,6R,7S,7aS)-5 and (1R,2S,6S,7R,7aR)-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxypyrrolidin-5-ones 6 and (1R,2S,6S,7S,7aS)-7 and (1R,2S,6R,7R,7aS)-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxypyrrolizidines 8 following stereoselective paths. These new compounds have been assayed for their inhibitory activities towards 25 glycosidases. Pyrrolizidines 7 and 8 are moderate but selective inhibitors of amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus mold (7: IC₅₀=130 μM, K_i=120 μM; 8: IC₅₀=200 μM, K_i=180 μM, mixed type of inhibition).     

Do lipases also catalyse the ring cleavage of inactivated cyclic trans-β-lactams?

Twelve-membered cyclic cis- and trans-β-lactams 1b and 2b and the corresponding cyclic cis- and trans-β-amino acid enantiomers, 1a, 1c and 2a, 2c were prepared through the CAL-B-catalysed enantioselective ring cleavage of racemic cis-13-azabicyclo[10.2.0]tetradecan-14-one, (±)-1, and trans-13-azabicyclo[10.2.0]tetradecan-14-one, (±)-2. High enantioselectivities (E >200) were observed for the ring opening of both the cis- and trans-β-lactams when the Lipolase-catalysed reactions were performed with 0.5 equiv of H₂O in i-Pr₂O at 70 °C. The resolved β-lactams 1b and 2b (yield ⩾47%) and β-amino acids 1a and 2a (yield ⩾32%) could be easily separated.     

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key step in the enantioselective synthesis of spirocyclic σ1 receptor ligands

The enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated spirocyclic σ₁ ligands involved three key steps: (1) the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 2-bromostyrene 5 provided enantiomerically pure diols (R)-6 and (S)-6 establishing the stereogenic center; (2) the intramolecular opening of the oxirane ring of (R)-11 and (S)-11, which occurred with excellent regioselectivity and complete inversion of configuration giving access to enantiomerically pure alcohols (S)-7a and (R)-7a; (3) the treatment of alcohols (S)-7b and (R)-7b with DAST, which led to the fluoromethyl derivatives (S)-1 and (R)-1 without racemization. X-ray crystal structure analysis of the tosylate (R)-13 confirmed the absolute configuration of the spirocyclic compounds as well as the enantioselectivity during the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of 5. The (S)-configured fluoromethyl derivative (S)-1 revealed a high σ₁ affinity (K_i = 1.8 nM), high eudismic ratio (factor 8) and high selectivity over the σ₂ subtype (667-fold).     

Reactions of a hydrido(hydrosilylene)tungsten complex with oxiranes

Reactivity of a hydrido(hydrosilylene)tungsten complex, Cp¹(CO)₂(H)WSi(H)[C(SiMe₃)₃] (1), toward oxiranes was investigated. Treatment of 1 with racemic mono-substituted oxiranes with a substituent R (R = Ph, vinyl, ^tBu, or ⁿBu) at room temperature produced dihydrido(vinyloxysilyl)tungsten complexes, (E)- and/or (Z)-Cp¹(CO)₂(H)₂W{Si(H)(OCHCHR)[C(SiMe₃)₃]} [(E/Z)-2: R = Ph, (E)-3: R = vinyl, (E)-4: R = ^tBu, (E/Z)-5: R = ⁿBu] in high yields via regioselective ring-opening of oxiranes. When the substituent R on oxirane was relatively large, (E)-isomers (2, 3, and 4) were obtained predominantly (87–97%), while the substituent was a relatively small ⁿBu group, an approximately 1:1 mixture of (E)- and (Z)-isomers [(E/Z)-5] was obtained. Reaction of 1 with 2,2-dimethyloxirane afforded the corresponding complex, Cp¹(CO)₂(H)₂W{Si(H)(OCHCMe₂)[C(SiMe₃)₃]} (6), quantitatively. A reaction mechanism is also discussed.     

Preparation of isoxazolidinyl nucleoside enantiomers by lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution

An efficient biocatalytic procedure to obtain chiral N,O-nucleoside derivatives consisting of a lipase-catalysed resolution of the corresponding racemates in organic solvent has been developed. Enantioselective esterification of thymine and cytosine derivatives, (±)-9a and (±)-9b, has been investigated by comparing the efficiency of different lipases and acyl donors. Since esterification of (±)-9a and (±)-9b, occurred with low enantioselectivity (E ? 14) in the presence of the lipases considered, for preparative purposes we resorted, with success, to a double sequential kinetic resolution, using Lipozyme IM as the best catalyst. This approach enables us to obtain all the enantiomers with ee ? 95%. The absolute configuration of the new chiral N-acetyl cytosine derivative 9b was established by circular dichroism spectroscopy.     

Advanced procedure for the enzymatic ring opening of unsaturated alicyclic β-lactams

Enantiopure β-amino acids 1a–4a and β-lactams 1b–4b were prepared simultaneously through the lipolase-catalysed enantioselective ring opening of unsaturated racemic β-lactams (±)-1-(±)-4. High enantioselectivities (E>200) were observed when the reactions were performed with 1 equiv of water in iPr₂O at 70 °C. The resolved (1R,2S)-amino acids (yield⩾45%) and (1S,5R)-, (1S,6R)- and (1S,8R)-lactams (yield⩾47%) could be easily separated. The ring opening of lactam enantiomers 1b–4b with 18% HCl afforded the corresponding β-amino acid hydrochlorides 1c·HCl–4c·HCl (ee >95%).     

Synthesis of rigid and C2-symmetric 18-crown-6 type macrocycles bearing diamide–diester groups: enantiomeric recognition for α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate salts

A series of rigid and chiral C₂-symmetric 18-crown-6 type macrocycles (S,S)-4, (S,S)-5, (S,S)-6 and (R,R)-2 bearing diamide–ester groups were synthesized. The binding properties of these macrocycles were examined for α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorates salts by an ¹H NMR titration method. Taking into account the host employed, important differences were observed in the K_a values of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of guests for macrocycles (S,S)-4 and (S,S)-6, K_S/K_R = 3.6, and K_S/K_R = 0.1 (K_R/K_S = 10.3) ΔΔG = 3.19 and ΔΔG = ?5.77 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The results indicated excellent enantioselectivity of macrocyclic (S,S)-6 towards the enantiomers of α-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate salts.     

Highly enantioselective enzymatic resolution of aromatic β-amino acid amides with Pd-catalyzed racemization

The kinetic resolution of an aromatic β-amino acid amide 3a–d via N-acylation was explored with two lipases, Candida antarctica lipase A (CALA) and Pseudomonas stutzeri lipase (PSL). The PSL-catalyzed resolution proceeded with excellent enantioselectivity (E = >400) to give both acylated products and unreacted substrates in enantiopure forms. Three additional aromatic β-amino acid amides 3b–d were also resolved by PSL with a high level of enantioselectivity (E = >200). The PSL-catalyzed resolution of 3a was coupled with a Pd-catalyzed racemization to obtain enantiopure N-acylated product (R)-4a (>99% ee) in high yield (90%).     

Dialkyl- and diaryl-platinum(II) complexes with secondary phosphines: Preparation,structure and thermal reaction giving the metallopolymer

Alkyl and arylplatinum complexes with 1,5-cyclooctadiene ligand, [PtR₂(cod)] (R = Me, Ph, C₆H₄-p-CF₃, C₆F₅), react with secondary phosphines, PHR′₂ (R′ = i-Bu, t-Bu, Ph), to afford the mononuclear platinum complexes, cis-[PtR₂(PHR′₂)₂] (1a: R = Me, R′ = i-Bu; 1b: R = Me, R′ = t-Bu; 1c: R = Me, R′ = Ph; 2a: R = Ph, R′ = i-Bu; 2b: R = Ph, R′ = t-Bu; 2c: R = R′ = Ph; 3a: R = C₆H₄-p-CF₃, R′ = i-Bu; 3b: R = C₆H₄-p-CF₃, R′ = t-Bu; 3c: R = C₆H₄-p-CF₃, R′ = Ph; 4a: R = C₆F₅, R′ = i-Bu; 4c: R = C₆F₅, R′ = Ph) in 81–98% yields. Molecular structures of the complexes except for 1a, 1c and 2a were determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1b has a square-planar structure with Pt–C(methyl) bonds of 2.083(8) and 2.109(8) Å, while the Pt–C(aryl) bonds of 2b–c, 3a–c, 4a and 4c (2.055(1)–2.073(8) Å) are shorter than them. Thermal decomposition of 1b, 2a–c, and 3a–c releases methane, biphenyl or 4,4′-bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl as the organic products, which are characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The solid product of the thermal reactions of 2b and 2c were characterized as the metallopolymers formulated as [Pt(PR′₂)₂]_n (5b: R′ = ^tBu; 5c: R′ = Ph), based on the solid-state NMR and elemental analyses.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of novel quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives containing a 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole moiety

A series of novel quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives (6a–6y) containing a 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole moiety were designed and synthesized, and their structures were fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HRMS and IR spectra. Among them, the structure of compound 6u was unambiguously confirmed via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The obtained bioassay results showed that compounds 6h, 6k, 6l and 6y had the EC₅₀ (half-maximal effective concentration) values of 34.8, 28.2, 41.5 and 42.5 μg/mL against the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), respectively, which were significantly better than commercial bactericide Bismerthiazol (EC₅₀ = 95.8 μg/mL). Additionally, compounds 6a and 6b exhibited the strong inhibition activity against the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac).     

Enantioselective self-assembly,crystallographic structure and magnetic properties of the two enantiomers of the optically active canted antiferromagnet [Ru(bpy)3][Mn2(ox)3]

The two enantiomers of [Ru(bpy)₃][Mn₂(ox)₃] (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, ox = oxalate), namely [(Δ)-Ru(bpy)₃][(Δ)-Mn₂(ox)₃], (Δ-1) and [(Λ)-Ru(bpy)₃][(Λ)-Mn₂(ox)₃], (Λ-1), were obtained as single crystals using [(Δ)-Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ and [(Λ)-Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, respectively, as a chiral templating cation. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds crystallise in the enantiomeric chiral cubic space groups, P4₃32 (Δ-1) and P4₁32 (Λ-1), with a = 15.492(2) and 15.507(2) Å, respectively (Z = 4). Both structures include a three-dimensional 10-gon 3-connected (10,3) anionic network wrapped around the [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ cations. In both crystalline enantiomers, the resolved ruthenium template cation imposes both the topology and the absolute configuration of all the metal centres. The thermal variation of the magnetic susceptibility, measured on Δ-1 and Λ-1 crystals, reveals an antiferromagnetic coupling between the oxalate-bridged manganese ions in the paramagnetic region characterised by a negative Weiss constant Θ = −35 K. Below T_N = 13 K, Δ-1 and Λ-1 exhibit a canted antiferromagnetic order.     

Intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes: Part 6. The synthesis of 1-[2,6-bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]silenes and their reaction with aromatic aldehydes

The intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes ArR¹SiC(SiMe₃)₂ (3a–d) (3a: R¹ = Me; 3b: R¹ = t-Bu; 3c: R¹ = Ph; 3d: R¹ = SiMe₃; Ar = 2,6-(Me₂NCH₂)₂C₆H₃) were prepared by treatment of the (dichloromethyl)oligosilanes (Me₃Si)₂R¹Si–CHCl₂ (1a–d), with 2,6-bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyllithium (molar ratio 1:2). For 3c and 3d, X-ray structural analyses were performed indicating that only one dimethylamino group of the tridentate ligand is coordinated to the electrophilic silene silicon atoms, i.e., the central silicon atoms are tetracoordinated. The N → Si donation leads to pyramidalization at the silene silicon atoms; the configuration at the silene carbon atoms is planar. For a chemical characterization 3a and 3c were treated with water to give the silanols ArR¹Si(OH)–CH(SiMe₃)₂ (5a,c). Studies of the reactions of 3a and 3c with benzaldehyde, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde or 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, respectively, revealed an unexpected reaction path leading to the substituted 2-oxa-1-sila-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes 12a, 12c, 13 and 14. Both 12a and 12c were structurally characterized by X-ray analyses. The formation of these six-membered cyclic compounds, which is discussed in detail, gives support to a dipolar mechanism for the general reaction of silenes with carbonyl derivatives.     

Palladium(II) complexes with the new P,N-type ligand (2-oxazoline-2-ylmethyl)di-isopropylphosphine as intermediates in CO/ethylene or CO/methyl acrylate insertion

The ligand (i-Pr)₂PCH₂(oxazoline) (1a), of the P,N-donor type, was reacted with [PdMeCl(COD)] to yield the square planar methylpalladium(II) complex [PdClMe(P,N)] (P,N = 1a) (2a), from which the complex [PdMe(P,N)OTf] (OTf = OSO₂CF₃) (3a) was obtained by AgOTf-promoted chloride abstraction. The alkyl complexes

(P,N = 1a) (5a, R = H; 7a, R = C(O)OMe) have been isolated from the initial CO/ethylene or CO/methyl acrylate insertion steps into the Pd–Me bond of 3a, respectively, and spectroscopically characterized. Complexes 2a, 3a and 7a have been fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 7a is still a rare example of a structurally characterized CO/methyl acrylate stepwise insertion product. These complexes are relevant to the alternating copolymerization of olefins and carbon monoxide catalyzed by palladium complexes. In addition, the centrosymmetric dinuclear complex trans-[Pd(μ-Cl){(i-Pr)₂PCH₂(oxazoline)}]₂(OTf)₂ (6) has been obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction; it appears to be the first dinuclear complex of the type [Pd(μ-Cl)(P,N)]₂ to be characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Résumé

Le ligand (i-Pr)₂PCH₂(oxazoline) (1a), de type donneur P,N, réagit avec [PdClMe(COD)] pour former le complexe plan carré méthylpalladium(II) [PdClMe(P,N)] (P,N = 1a) (2a), à partir duquel le complexe [PdMe(P,N)OTf] (OTf = OSO₂CF₃) (3a) a été obtenu par abstraction de chlorure à l'aide de AgOTf. Les complexes alkyles

(P,N = 1a) (5a, R = H; 7a, R = C(O)OMe), ont été isolés lors des premières étapes d'insertion de CO/éthylène ou de CO/acrylate de méthyle, respectivement, dans la liaison Pd–Me de 3a, et caractérisés par méthodes spectroscopiques. Les complexes 2a, 3a et 7a ont été complètement caractérisés par diffraction des rayons X sur monocristal. Le complexe 7a est un exemple encore rare de produit d'insertion par étapes de CO/acrylate de méthyle qui ait été caractérisé structuralement. Ces complexes sont pertinents pour la copolymérisation alternée d'oléfines et de monoxyde de carbone catalysée par les complexes du palladium. En outre, le complexe dinucléaire centrosymétrique trans-[Pd(μ-Cl){(i-Pr)₂PCH₂(oxazoline)}]₂(OTf)₂ (6) a été obtenu et caractérisé par diffraction des rayons X; il s'agit du premier complexe dinucléaire de type [Pd(μ-Cl)(P,N)]₂ à être caractérisé par diffraction des rayons X.     

Copper(I) complexes of heterocyclic thiourea ligands

The coordination of heterocyclic thiourea ligands (L = N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-phenylthiourea (1), N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-methylthiourea (2), N-(3-pyridyl)-N′-phenylthiourea (3), N-(3-pyridyl)-N′-methylthiourea (4), N-(4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylthiourea (5), N-(2-pyrimidyl)-N′-phenylthiourea (6), N-(2-pyrimidyl)-N′-methylthiourea (7), N-(2-thiazolyl)-N′-methylthiourea (8), N-(2-benzothiazolyl)-N′-methylthiourea (9), N,N′-bis(2-pyridyl)thiourea (10) and N,N′-bis(3-pyridyl)thiourea (11)) with CuX (X = Cl, Br, I, NO₃) has been investigated. CuX:L product stoichiometries of 1:1–1:5 were found, with 1:1 being most common. X-ray structures of four 3-coordinate mononuclear CuXL₂ complexes (CuCl(6)₂, CuCl(7)₂, CuBr(6)₂, and CuBr(9)₂) are reported. In contrast, CuBr(1)₂ is a 1D sulfur-bridged polymer. CuIL structures (L = 7, 8) are 1D chains with corner-sharing Cu₂(μ-I)₂ and Cu₂(μ-S)₂ units, and CuCl(10) is a 2D network having μ-Cl and N-/S-bridging L. Two [CuL₂]NO₃ structures are reported: a mononuclear 4-coordinate copper complex with chelating ligands (L = 10) and a 1D link-chain with N-/S-bridging L (L = 3). Two ligand oxidative cyclizations were encountered during crystallization. CuI crystallized with 6 to produce zigzag ladder polymer [(CuI)₂(12)]·½CH₃CN (12 = N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine) and CuNO₃ crystallized with 10 to form [Cu₂(NO₃)(13)₂(MeCN)]NO₃ (13 = dipyridyltetraazathiapentalene).     

New chemical and chemo-enzymatic routes for the synthesis of (RS)- and (S)-enciprazine

The chemo-enzymatic synthesis of racemic and enantiopure (RS)- and (S)-enciprazine 1, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug, is described herein. The synthesis started from 1-(2-methoxyphenyl) piperazine 3, which was treated with 2-(chloromethyl) oxirane (RS)-4 using lithium bromide to afford a racemic alcohol, 1-chloro-3-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl) piperazin-1-yl) propan-2-ol (RS)-6 in 85% yield. Intermediate (S)-6 was synthesized from racemic alcohol (RS)-6 using Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) with vinyl acetate as the acyl donor. Various reaction parameters such as temperature, time, substrate, enzyme concentration, and the effect of the reaction medium on the conversion and enantiomeric excess for the transesterification of (RS)-6 by CRL were optimized. It was observed that 10 mM of (RS)-6, 50 mg/mL of CRL in 4.0 mL of toluene with vinyl acetate (5.4 mmol) as acyl donor at 30 °C gave good conversion (C = 49.4%) and enantiomeric excess (ee_P = 98.4% and ee_S = 96%) after 9 h of reaction. Compound (S)-6 is a key intermediate for the synthesis of enantiopure (S)-1. The (RS)- and (S)-enciprazine drug 1 was synthesized by treating (RS)- and (S)-6 with 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol 5 using MeCN as a solvent and K₂CO₃ as a base.     

An efficient synthesis of (7S,10R)-2-bromo-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-epiminocyclohepta[b]indole: application in the preparation and structural confirmation of a potent 5-HT6 antagonist

(7S,10R)-5-Methyl-2-((3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)sulfonyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-epiminocyclohepta[b]indole 1a is a potent 5-HT₆ antagonist (h5-HT₆ K_i = 1.5 nM) which is derived from an epiminocyclohept[b]indole scaffold. In order to synthesize 1a on a multi-gram scale to support advanced biological testing, an efficient chiral resolution of the intermediate tert-butyl 2-bromo-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-epiminocyclohepta[b]indole-11-carboxylate 2 was developed. After derivatizing 2 with (1R)-(?)-menthyl chloroformate it was found that a single diastereomer 7a could be isolated by selective precipitation from n-hexane. The absolute stereochemistry of 7a was determined by X-ray crystallography and the structure was confirmed as (7S,10R)-tert-butyl 2-bromo-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-7,10-epiminocyclohepta[b]indole-11-carboxylate. Removal of the chiral auxiliary under basic conditions afforded intermediate 2a in >99% enantiomeric purity and with 80% yield based on recovery from the racemic compound 2. Intermediate 2a was used successfully to synthesize 5-HT₆ antagonist 1a on a multi-gram scale.     

Adduct formation of [(η7-C7H7)Hf(η5-C5H5)] with isocyanides,phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes: An experimental and theoretical study

The reactions of [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Hf(η⁵-C₅H₅)] (1b) with the two-electron donor ligands tert-butyl isocyanide (tBuNC), 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (XyNC), 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-ylidene (IMe) and trimethylphosphine (PMe₃) are reported. The 1:1 complexes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Hf(η⁵-C₅H₅)L] (2b, L = tBuNC; 3b, L = XyNC; 4b, L = IMe, 5b, L = PMe₃) have been isolated in crystalline form, and their molecular structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. The stabilities of these hafnium complexes were probed via spectroscopic and theoretical methods, and the results were compared to those previously reported for the corresponding zirconium complexes derived from [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Zr(η⁵-C₅H₅)] (1a). The X-ray crystal structure of the PMe₃ adduct [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Zr(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PMe₃)] (5a) was also established.     

Continuous-flow enzymatic resolution strategy for the acylation of amino alcohols with a remote stereogenic centre: synthesis of calycotomine enantiomers

Both enantiomers of calycotomine (R)-5 and (S)-5 were prepared through the CAL-B-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of N-Boc-protected (6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)methanol [(±)-3)]. The optimum conditions for the enzymatic resolution were determined under continuous-flow conditions, while the preparative-scale resolution of (±)-3 was performed as a batch reaction with high enantioselectivity (E >200). The resulting amino alcohol (S)-3 and amino ester (R)-4, obtained with high enantiomeric excess (ee = 99%), were transformed into the desired calycotomine (S)-5 and (R)-5 (ee = 99%). A systematic study was carried out in a continuous-flow system on the O-acylation of tetrahydroisoquinoline amino alcohol homologues (±)-1 to (±)-3 containing a remote stereogenic centre.     

Heterocycles 35. CaL-B mediated synthesis of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-ethyl 3-(2-arylthiazol-4-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoates

Herein we present the lipase catalyzed synthesis of four new enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-ethyl 3-(2-arylthiazol-4-yl)-3-hydroxypropanoates and their butanoates by enzymatic enantioselective acylation of the racemic alcohols rac-1a–d and by ethanolysis of the corresponding racemic esters rac-2a–d mediated by lipase B from Candida antarctica (CaL-B) in organic solvents. In terms of stereoselectivity and activity, both procedures, the acylation and alcoholysis, are successful (50% conversion, E ≫ 200). The absolute configuration of the resolution products was determined by a detailed ¹H NMR study of the Mosher’s derivatives of (S)-1a.     

A green route to enantioenriched (S)-arylalkyl carbinols by deracemization via combined lipase alkaline-hydrolysis/Mitsunobu esterification

Herein we report results of the chemoenzymatic deracemization of a range of secondary benzylic acetates 1a–9a via a sequence of hydrolysis with CAL-B lipase in non-conventional media, combined with esterification of the recovered alcohol according to the Mitsunobu protocol following an enzymatic kinetic resolution (KR). The KR of racemic acetates 1a–9a via an enzymatic hydrolysis, with CAL-B lipase and Na₂CO₃, in non-aqueous media was optimized and gave high selectivities (E ? 200) at good conversions (C >49%) for all of the substrates studied. This method competes well with the traditional one performed in a phosphate buffer solution. The deracemization using Mitsunobu inversion gave the (S)-acetates in moderate to excellent enantiomeric excess 75% < ee < 99%, in acceptable isolated yields 70% < yield < 89%, and with some variations according to the acetate structure.