Abstract Lipase Pseudomonas cepacia catalyzed acylation of (±)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-7, 8- dihydro-1H-indeno [5, 4-b] furan-6 (2H)-one using vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in acetone gave (−)-(R)-2-acetoxy-2-(methyl)-7, 8-dihydro-1H-indeno [5, 4-b] furan-6 (2H)-one and (+)- (S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-7, 8-dihydro-1H-indeno [5, 4-b] furan-6 (2H)-one with high enantiomeric excess. Enantiomerically pure 2-(hydroxymethyl)-7, 8-dihydro-1H-indeno [5, ...