Chemoenzymatic synthesis and biological activity of both enantiomeric forms of tetraconazole, a new antifungal triazole

Both enantiomers of (R,S)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether (tetraconazole), a new, broad spectrum, triazole fungicide, were prepared by stereoselective lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the racemic precursor (R,S)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-prop-1-yl acetate or by lipase-catalyzed transesterification of the prochiral precursor 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-propanediol (.)