The first synthesis of several types of optically active 1,1,2-trifluoro-1-alken-3-ols has been accomplished through the Pseudomonas cepacia lipase-catalyzed trans-esterification. The PCL catalyzed acylation using vinyl chloroacetate as the acyl donor provided the corresponding fluorinated-allyl alcohols that possess an aromatic functional group with sufficient enantioselectivity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.