(S)-(-)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol, which is the alcohol moiety of pyrethroids, effective insecticides, is prepared by reacting organic carboxylic acid ester, such as acetic acid ester, of racemic (R.S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol with an esterase, wherein the ester of (S)-(-)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol is predominantly hydrolyzed. Thus. asymmetric hydrolysis permits optical resolution of the (S)-(-)-isomer alcohol from the ester of its antipode, in a high optical purity. The esterase may be of microorganism or animal pancreas or liver.
(S)-(-)-α-
氰基-
3-苯氧基苄醇是有效
杀虫剂拟
除虫菊酯的醇基,其制备方法是将外消旋(R.S)-α-
氰基-
3-苯氧基苄醇的有机
羧酸酯(如
乙酸酯)与
酯酶反应,其中(S)-(-)-α-
氰基-
3-苯氧基苄醇的酯主要被
水解。 因此,不对称
水解允许以高光学纯度从其反式的酯中光学分解出(S)-(-)-异构体醇。
酯酶可以是微
生物或动物的胰腺或肝脏。