Kinetic resolution of 1-acenaphthenol and 1-acetoxynaphthene through lipase-catalyzed acylation and hydrolysis

Acenaphthenyl acetate and acenaphthenol are resolved through Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase (PFL)-catalyzed hydrolysis and acylation, respectively. By contrast, the structurally related 1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl acetate and 1-(1-naphthyl)ethanol are inactive under the same reaction conditions.