Enantiomeric separation of rac-indoprofen by a biocatalytic procedure

Lipase from Candida antarctica, commercially available immobilised on acrylic resin as Novozym® 435, allows for enantioselective esterification of rac-indoprofen (±)-1, with methanol in a dioxane-toluene solvent system. A double esterification process affords methyl ester (-)-(R)-2 in 85% e.e. and enantiopure (+)-(S)-1, both in good chemical yield.