Enzymatic resolution of (+/-)-5-acetoxy-4-aryl-(2E)-pentenoate derivatives

Enzymatic resolution of six (+/-)-5-acetoxy-4-aryl-(2E)-pentenoate derivatives, compounds 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19 bearing a different aromatic substitution pattern, using lipase OF-360 from Candida rugosa was carried out. The absolute configurations of all hydrolyzed products and all unchanged acetates were found to be S and R, respectively. Moreover, the enantiomeric excess of the enzymatic resolution products from 9, 11, and 13 with the ortho-methoxyl group in the aromatic ring was higher than that of the substrates with no methoxyl group at the ortho-position in the aromatic ring.