Resolution of Secondary α‐Ketoalcohols Catalyzed by Lipase and Inversion of Stereochemistry

Several α-ketoalcohols of synthetic value were resolved using lipase as a catalyst. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) provided the best rate of hydrolysis and kinetic differentiation. One of these optically pure α-ketoalcohol was converted to (5)-ibuprofen in good optical purity. The stereospecific inversion of (R)-alcohol to (S)-alcohol is described.