Separation of stereoisomeric 1,1'-bis(alpha-hydroxyethyl)ferrocenes by lipase-mediated acetylation in organic solvent

Acetylation of meso,dl-1,1'-bis(alpha-hydroxyethyl)ferrocene in dry acetone using vinyl acetate as acetyl donor and Pseudomonas cepacia lipase as catalyst allowed the diacetate of the (R,R)-enantiomer and the free (S,S)-diol to be obtained. A concurrent desymmetrization of the meso-diol was also obtained.