Prostaglandin chemistry—IV : Microbiological kinetic resolution and asymmetric hydrolysis of 3,5-diacetoxycyclopent-1-ene

A 1:1 mixture of cis- and trans-3,5-diacetoxycyclopent-1-ene (1) was asymmetrically hydrolysed by baker's yeast to give trans-3(R)-acetoxy-5(R)-hydroxycyclopent-1-ene (R-2a) and S-predominant 3,5-dihydroxycyclopent-1-ene (3) accompanied by trans-3(R),5(R)-diacetoxycyclopent-1-ene (R-1a).The optical activities on the products were found to be dependent on the difference of the enzymatic hydrolytic rate among cis-, trans(S,S)- and trans(R,R)-3,5-diacetoxycyclopent-1-ene.The asymmetric hydrolysis was also investigated on wheat germ lipase, citrus acetyl esterase, and the lipase prepared from Aspergillus niger.