Biocatalyzed synthesis of enantiomerically enriched β-5-like dimer of 4-vinylphenol

The tandem use of laccases and lipases has been exploited for the preparative scale synthesis of enantiomerically enriched dimeric phenols. e-catalyzed oxidation of 4-vinylphenol (3) in biphasic systems gave as main product the racemic compound 4. antiomerically enriched butanoate (+)-4b and acetate (−)-4a could be obtained by alcoholysis reactions catalyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase in organic solvent and subsequent acetylation.