Chiral amides obtained from (±)-2-chloropropionate esters and a wide range of amines when the reaction is catalysed by lipase. The enantioselection of the enzyme in this aminolysis reaction depends on the substrate and nucleophile structure and reaction conditions. This lipase can catalyze a transamidation reaction if N-trifluoroethyl-2-chloropropionamide is used as substrate. In this way, amides are