Dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of 1,4-diols and the preparation of trans-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines

Dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DYKAT) of a series of 1,4-diols is carried out with Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), Pseudomonas cepacia lipase II (PS-C II), and a ruthenium catalyst. A β-chloro-substituted 1,4-diol is successfully transformed into an optically pure 1,4-diacetate, which is a highly useful synthetic intermediate. The usefulness of the optically pure 1,4-diacetates is demonstrated by the synthesis of enantiopure 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines.