Nonenzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-aryl ethanol via enantioselective acylation

Kinetic resolution of a series of 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-aryl ethanol with (R)-benzotetramisole as the catalyst has been investigated. The result showed that when the aryl group in the substrate was a phenyl (or a phenyl substituted by an electron-donating group) or a naphthyl (an extended phenyl) group, the system could give an s value higher than 20. Preparative KR examples demonstrated the applicability of this method in the preparation of some of enantiomerically pure 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-aryl ethanol or 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-aryl-ethyl iso-butyrate.