Kinetic resolution of racemic isoquinoline alcohols and acetates has been successfully accomplished using lipases as chiral catalysts. The diastereoselective functionalisation of the isoquinoline moiety through the addition of C-nucleophiles to O-protected alcohol 9a in the presence of phenyl chloroformate has been carried out and dihydroquinolyl alcohol derivatives with high diastereomeric excess have been prepared.
