Diastereoselective and enantioselective lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of stereoisomeric 2-methylene, 5-t-butylcyclohexyl acetates

cis- and trans-2-Methylene-5-t-butylcyclohexanols are obtained in high (>90%) e.e. through Rabbit Gastric Lipase (RGL)-catalyzed acylation or hydrolysis of the stereoisomeric racemic alcohols or their corresponding acetates. Since these reactions were diastereomer-selective, enantiomerically enriched cis- and trans-5-t-butyl-2-methylenecyclohexanols could also be prepared from cis/trans isomeric mixtures.