Effective enzymatic resolution of rac-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)propan-2-ol, precursor of fenfluramine

Lipases from Candida antarctica and from Mucor miehei efficiently catalyze the enantioselective esterification of rac-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)propan-2-ol. The obtained enantioforms are suitable to prepare both enantiomers of fenfluramine. Chirality 14:325–328, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.