Abstract Enantiomerically pure alkyl-aryl secondary alcohols were conveniently obtained on a kilogram scale from their racemic mixtures by enzymatic acylation with succinic anhydride in organic solvents. A major advantage of this acylation method is the ease of separating the ester from the unreacted alcohol. This is achieved by extracting the organic solution with aqueous NaHCO 3 after the enzymatic reaction is completed.
