Lipase catalysis in organic solvents. Application to the synthesis of (R)- and (S)-atenolol

Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-atenolol (1) was achieved in five steps starting from p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. Lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia showed excellent selectivity toward kinetic resolution of key intermediates 1-[p-[(butoxycarbonyl)methyl]phenoxy]-3-chloropropan-2-ol (9) and its O-acetyl ester, 1-[p-[(butoxycarbonyl)methyl]phenoxy]-2-acetoxy-3-chloropropane (10).