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