A practical method for enzymatic resolution of homoallyl alcohols and its utility in the synthesis of optically pure fluoxetine and relatedcompounds is reported
Racemic mixtures of 1-aryl-3-buten-1-ols were separated with high enantioselectivity by a lipase-mediated acetylation with vinyl acetate. The effects (if the nature, position, and spatial requirements of the phenyl-ring substituents on the separation efficacy were investigated.