Chemoenzymatic resolution of β-azidophenylethanols by candida antarctica and their application for the synthesis of chiral benzotriazoles

The kinetic resolutions of (+/-)-beta-azidophenylethanols were carried out using lipase from Candida antarctica, and enantiomerically enriched (R)-beta-azidophenylethanols and their corresponding (S)-beta-azidophenylethyl acetates were obtained in good enantiomeric excesses (up to > 99%). The enantiomerically enriched (R)-beta-azidophenylethanols were subjected to cyclization reaction with 2-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl triflate and CsF producing chiral 1,2,3-benzotriazole compounds in good yields (75-86%) by a [3 + 2] cycloaddition, which involves the benzyne formation.