Efficient access to both enantiomers of 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenol by regioselective and enantioselective CAL-B-catalyzed hydrolysis of diacetate in organic media by sodium carbonate

In the present paper, we describe several pathways employing immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica B (CAL-B) as biocatalyst to prepare easily both enantiomers of 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenol. We have applied hydrolysis with Na2CO3 in organic media under mild conditions. The reaction parameters solvent effect, amount of lipase, and Na2CO3 were examined with 3-(1-acetoxyethyl)phenyl acetate as substrate. In alkaline hydrolysis, (R)-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenol was obtained with ee = 99% and (S)-(-)-3-(1-acetoxyethyl)phenol with ee = 98% at optimal conversion (c = 50%) and high selectivity (E > 200). Two other deacylation reactions were compared: alcoholysis with MeOH and with NEt3. The acylation of 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenol with vinyl acetate was also examined. Alkaline hydrolysis gave the best results, while good regioselectivity and enantioselectivity were observed in alcoholysis and acylation reactions. Finally, (S)- and (R)-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenol (ee > 98%), key intermediates for the synthesis of important drugs, were prepared from the corresponding racemic diacetate through alkaline hydrolysis.