The allylic hydroxylation of octalin derivatives with proceeds with high to excellent yields, even in the presence of substituents such as acetate, phosphate, free ketone or dioxolane, but not a benzyl group. One of the Me groups of a t-Bu ether can be hydroxylated.
Examples are given for allylic hydroxylations with Rhizopus arrhizus ATCC 11145. Chemical allylic hydroxylations are compared with microbiological ones. Stereoselective lipase-catalyzed hydrolyses are used efficiently.