Highly efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary aromatic alcohols with low-cost and easily available acid resins as racemization catalysts

A new and efficient dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) process of secondary aromatic alcohols was developed with acid resins as racemization catalysts. Acid resin CD8604 was shown to have excellent racemization activity and good biocompatibility. When employing CD8604 and complex acyl donors as racemization catalyst and acyl donor, respectively, enantiomerically pure aromatic acetate was obtained with excellent yield and ee values through the DKR process. It is noteworthy that the system could be reused more than 10 times with little loss of yield and ee value. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.