Procedure for the enzymatic resolution of lactamas.

Procedure for separating esters of enantiomeric lactams of formula (II): R 1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, which may be optionally substituted by one or more of the following: alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy , alkoxy, thiol, thioalkoxy and halogen; L is selected from the group consisting of no group or alkylene, alkenylene and alkynylene; wherein L may be optionally substituted by one or more of the following: alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, thiol, thioalkoxy, halogen, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, arylamino, aminoaryl, alkylaminoaryl, cyano and haloalkyl; X is chosen from the group consisting of (CH2) p and CH = CH; p = 1 to 4; Y is chosen from the group consisting of NH, O, (CH2) q and CH = CH; q = 1 to 2; Z is chosen from the group consisting of (CH2) v and CH = CH; v = 1 to 2; R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, thiol, thioalkoxy, halogen, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, cyano and haloalkyl, where all such substitutions may be optionally substituted. with one or more of the following: halogen, alkyl, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminoalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy; which comprises contacting the lactam esters with a biocatalyst in an aqueous solution, in an organic solvent or in a mixture of organic and aqueous solvents, wherein only one of the enantiomers is selectively hydrolyzed to provide the optically active isomer of the corresponding acid , and separating the hydrolysis product from the esters of unreacted lactams, where the biocatalyst is derived from thermostable enzymes.