Selective lipase-catalyzed preparation of diol monobenzoates by transesterification and alcoholysis reactions in organic solvents

Lipases from Mucor miehei (MML) and Candida antarctica (CAL) are able to catalyze the monobenzoylation of the primary hydroxy group of 1,2- 1,4- or 1,5-diols with vinyl benzoate in an organic solvent, the reaction proceeding with high regioselectivity and moderate enantioselectivity. The lipase-catalyzed debenzoylation of 1,2-propanediol dibenzoate by alcoholysis with I-octanol most satisfactorily occurred with Pseudomonas cepacia lipase absorbed onto celite that allowed also to prepare (R)-1-benzoyloxy-2-methylpropan-3-ol from 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol dibenzoate, a result complementary to MML-catalyzed benzoylation of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol that affords the (S)-monobenzoate.