Practical access to (S)-heterocyclic aromatic acetates via CAL-B/Na2CO3-deacylation and Mitsunobu reaction protocol

Abstract Herein, we report the preparation of enantiomerically pure forms of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-ol (1), chroman-4-ol (2), thiochroman-4-ol (3), 1-(furan-2-yl) ethanol (5) and 1-(thiophen-2-yl) ethanol (6), through a kinetic resolution catalysed by Candida antarctica lipase B/Na2CO3 hydrolysis sequence in organic media. The (R)-furnished alcohols and the (S)-remained acetates are recovered enantiopures (ee >99%, E ≫ 200, Conv = 50%). Those ideal enzymatic kinetic resolution (EKRs) are well incorporated to the Mitsunobu inversion protocol in a one pot procedure to give (S)-heterocyclic acetates (1a–3a) in good to high enantiomeric excess (88%–92% ee). Whilst, the (S)-heteroaromatic acetates (5a and 6a) are given with moderate enantiomeric excess (51%–62% ee). All the (S)-acetates are given in good isolated chemical yields (>80%) allowing to overcome the maximum of 50% yield which could be usually reached in a regular kinetic resolution processes. Graphical Abstract