Porcine liver esterase catalyzed kinetic resolution of baylis-hillman (B-H) adducts

Abstract Esterase from porcine liver smoothly resolves varieties of racemic 2-methylene-3-substituted-3-hydroxypropanoates (B-H adducts) to obtain the corresponding unreacted esters in very good to excellent ee (94 to >99%, seven examples) and hydrolyzed acids in good ee (58–75%). Substitution in B-H adducts, chosen for resolution, are funtionalized phenyl, thiophen-3-yl, cinnamyl, and alkyl groups. †DRL Pub. No. 232. Dedicated to Dr. A. Venkateswarlu on the occasion of his 63rd birth anniversary