(±)-1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine, a key intermediate in the synthesis of antihypertensivedrug labetalol, and the enantiopure (R)-benzamide was then converted into the pharmacologically active isomers of the drug. In comparison with the reported synthesis of chiral isomers of labetalol, this chemoenzymatic route offers the advantage in the lack of any chiral stoichiometric auxiliary.