Preparation of (s)-3-acetoxy-2-methyipropanol with lipase

Optically active carboxylic acid, D-(-)-β-hydroxyisobutyric acid {(D)-(-)-HIBA} is a useful chiral starting material for the preparation of enantiomerically pure bioactive compounds which have a chiral methyl carbon center in the molecule such as captopril, a-tocopherol, erythromycin A, muscone and so on. (S)-3-Acetoxy-2-methylpropanol can be used as the precursor of (D)-(-)-HIBA, that is, chemical oxidation of the hydroxyl group and subsequent hydrolysis of acyl group in (S)-3-acetoxy-2-methylpropanol affords D-(-)-β-hydroxyisobutyric acid. (S)-3-Acetoxy-2-methyl-propanol was prepared by lipase-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis. In the enzymatic hydrolysis system, lipase AY (Candida rugosa) provided the expected (S)-3-acetoxy-2-methylpropanol in 60% e.e. of the enantiomeric purity under the phosphate buffer and organic co-solvent system.