A Practical Method for Optical Resolution of Racemic Alcohols or Esters via Lipase-Catalyzed Transformation and Sulfation.

Optically active esters were conveniently obtained from the corresponding racemic alcohols or esters by lipase-catalyzed transformation, followed by sulfation. Sulfation by sulfurtrioxide pyridine complex enabled facile isolation of optically active esters by extraction instead of laborious column chromatography. The method would be especially advantageous on a large scale.