A convenient chemoenzymatic synthesis of (1S,7aS)-1-hydroxy-5-oxo-4-(2′-carboxyethyl)-7a-methyltetrahydro-indane—a key intermediate of steroids

A porcine pancreatic lipase mediated enzymatic hydrolysis of (±)-1-acetoxy-5-oxo-4-(2′-carbomethoxyethyl)-7a-methyltetrahydro-indane (5b) furnished (1S,7aS)-1-acetoxy-5-oxo-4-(2′-carbomethoxyethyl)-7a-methyltetrahydro-indane (9) and (1R,7aR)-1-hydroxy-5-oxo-4-(2′-carbomethoxyethyl)-7a-methyltetrahydro-indane (8) with >99% e.e. which on further chemical hydrolysis gave 1 and ent-1, key intermediates of steroids.