Synthesis and enzymatic resolution of a new class of alicyclic and heterocyclic mandelic acidderivatives was described. The method relied on the preparation of cyanohydrins from the commercially available aldehydes followed by hydrolysis to corresponding racemic hydroxy esters that were used in the resolution with the enzyme. An alternative approach was proposed for compounds that were not suitable
environmentally benign character of iron mean that it is an ideal alternative to precious metals in catalysis. Recent growth in the number of iron-catalysed reactions reported reflects an increasing demand for sustainable chemistry. Only a limited number of chiral iron catalysts have been reported and these have, in general, proven less enantioselective than other transition-metal catalysts, thus limiting their