Lipase Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of rac-2-(3-Methoxy-4-methylphenyl) propan-1-ol and rac-2-(3-Hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)propyl propanoate for S-(+)-Xanthorrhizol

Xanthorrhizol is a bisabolane type of natural sesquiterpene, the major component of essential oils of Curcuma xanthorrhiza. 2-(3-Methoxy-4-methylphenyl)propan-1-ol and 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methyl phenyl)propan-1-ol could be essential building block for enantioselective synthesis of xanthorrhizol. Enantioselective (c = 53%, E = $80{\pm}3$) for R-(+)-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl) propan-1-ol and (c = 58%, E = $27{\pm}1$) for R-(+)-2-(3-methoxy-4-methylphenyl) propan-1-ol resolution processes were developed via lipase-catalyzed reaction. We found lipase Aspergillus oryzae (AOL) and Porcine pancreas (PPL) are selective to transesterification and hydrolysis in organic and aqueous phase. Modified demethylated substrate is appropriate for enantioselective hydrolysis reaction without any additives. Enantiopure chiral alcohol was crystallized from ethyl acetate/n-hexane co-solvent system. Gram scale resolved chiral intermediate will facilitate the synthesis of the unnatural S-(+)-xanthorrhizol, the corresponding isomer of the natural one.