Production of cyclopentenones by enzyme resolution

摘要

A process for preparing an optically active cyclopentenone of the formula: <IMAGE> (I) wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group and n is an integer of 4 to 8, which comprises contacting a dl-cyclopentenone ester of the formula: <IMAGE> (II) wherein R and n are each as defined above and R' is a lower alkyl group optionally substituted with halogen on an enzyme having a capability of hydrolyzing selectively either one of the d- or l-form isomer in the dl-cyclopentenone ester (II) in an aqueous medium for asymmetric hydrolysis.