Abstract: A method for producing an optically active compound includes reacting a nucleophile with a mixture of R- and S-stereoisomers of an azolide substrate by enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution so as to produce the optically active compound, wherein the azolide substrate contains an azole group used as a leaving group and an acyl group directly bonded to a nitrogen atom of the azole group.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active compound includes reacting a nucleophile with a mixture of R- and S-stereoisomers of an azolide substrate by enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolution so as to produce the optically active compound, wherein the azolide substrate contains an azole group used as a leaving group and an acyl group directly bonded to a nitrogen atom of the azole group.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for enzymatically resolving a mixture of R- and S-enantiomers of an ?-substituted carboxylic acid or an ester or thioester thereof, in which a Carica papaya lipase is used as a biocatalyst to effect the resolution as desired.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active (S)-&agr;-aryl propionic acid, by hydrolyzing a racemic thioester of &agr;-aryl propionic acid at various temperature in different aqueous organic solvents in the presence of an (S)-stereoselective lipase to form an (S)-&agr;-aryl propionic acid product, while the unreacted (R)-thioester of &agr;-aryl propionic acid can be converted to the corresponding (S)-thioester of &agr;-aryl propionic acid via a racemization reaction by adding a base as the catalyst in the solution and then hydrolyzing by the lipase described as above so that the (S)-&agr;-aryl propionic acid can be obtained theoretically at a conversion of 100% and with high optical purity.