Enzyme Catalysed Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Methyl 3-acethylbicyclo [2.2.1] hept-5-ene-2-carboxylate using pig's liver esterase†

Racemic methyl 3- endo-acetylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2- exo-carboxylate and methyl 3- exo-acetylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2- endo-carboxylate were prepared (as a 1:1 mixture in 98% yield) from (E)-methyl 4- oxo-2-pentenoate, using Diels–Alder methodology. The mixture was separated chromatographically and resolved into the enantiomers by pig liver esterase (PLE) with low to high ee's (98%).