Enzymatic resolution of 5-hydroxy- and 8-hydroxy-2-tetralols using immobilized lipases

(R)-2-Tetralol (R)-2a, (R)-5-hydroxy-2-tetralol (R)-2b and (R)-8-hydroxy-2-tetralol (R)-2c, which are key
intermediates in the synthesis of pharmacologically active 2-aminotetralins 3, were prepared in moderate
to very high enantiomeric excess (up to 99% ee) by enzymatic resolution of the corresponding racemic
butyrates rac-1a, rac-1b and rac-1c, respectively, using lipases immobilized on octyl agarose. This methodology
is an alternative to the microbial reduction of 2-tetralones.