Lipase catalysis in organic solvents. In search of practical derivatizing agents for the kinetic resolution of alcohols.

Abstract 2-Phenyloxazolin-5-one ( 2 ) acts as a ‘derivatizing agent’ in the lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution of N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-amino-1-butanol ( 1 ) in organic solvents. Unique structural alteration possible due to condensation with 2 gives enough scope for the separation of product and substrate isomers without using column chromatography.