A fast, convenient procedure for preparing and resolving moderate to large quantities of chiral secondary alcohols is described. The general procedure involves a one-pot conversion of the ketone (various acetophenones) to the half-ester of a diacid (succinic, phthalic…) and resolution with (+)-and (-)-1-phenylethylamines. Overall yields of the enantiomeric alcohols, the variously substituted 1-phenylethanols, are generally 65-85% ...