Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) was found to be a highly active biocatalyst for the direct acylation of the phenolic hydroxyls of substituted hydroquinones and resorcinols with vinyl propanoate as an acyl donor. The acylation reactions took place generally in a very regioselective manner. Especially in the case of 4-substituted resorcinols, the hydroxyl remote from the substituent was regiospecifically
Candida antarctica lipase B proved to be a highly active biocatalyst for the direct acylation of phenolic hydroxy groups of substituted hydroquinones and resorcinols, which have rarely been reported so far. More importantly, the acylation reactions took place generally in a markedly regioselective manner: the hydroxy group remote from the substituent was preferentially acylated. In the case of substituted