Biochemical process for optical resolution of cyclopentenolone derivatives

摘要

PCT No. PCT/JP83/00086 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 7, 1984 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 7, 1984 PCT Filed Mar. 18, 1983 PCT Pub. No. WO84/03714 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 27, 1984.A biochemical process for optical resolution of 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-2'-propynyl-2-cyclopentenone, which comprises asymmetrically hydrolyzing organic carboxylic acid (saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acids having 1 to 18 carbon atoms) esters of (+/-)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-2'-propynyl-2-cyclopentenone by the action of an esterase originated from a microorganism or an animal pancreas to give optically active 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-2'-propynyl-2-cyclopentenone and esters of its antipode with high optical purity is disclosed. This resolution process is simple in steps as compared with the conventionally known organic chemical methods of optical resolution, and is quite advantageous industrially because it does not require expensive optically active reagents.