We report the first enzyme-catalysed kinetic resolution of epoxy enol esters. The lipase-promoted hydrolysis of these compounds provided alpha-hydroxyketones or alpha-hydroxyaldehydes (arising from the spontaneous rearrangement of the epoxy enols) and the residual esters with moderate to good enantioselectivity (E up to 100). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.