Preparation of useful chiral lactone synthons via stereospecific enzyme-catalysed oxidations of meso-diols
Abstract
Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase-catalysed oxidations of symmetrical acyclic and cyclic meso-diol substrates give chiral γ- and δ-lactones in high yields and of 100% enantiomeric excess and provide access to a broad range of useful synthons of value in asymmetric syntheses of natural products.