LIPASE-CATALYZED ENANTIOSELECTIVE HYDROLYSIS OF N-ACYLOXYMETHYL GROUPS IN ORGANIC-SOLVENT - SYNTHESES OF CHIRAL 5,5-DISUBSTITUTED 1-METHYLBARBITURATES

Chiral 5,5,-disubstituted N-acyloxymethylbarbiturates have been obtained in 40-99% optical yields by lipase-catalyzed hydrolyses of 5,5-disubstituted bisacyloxymethylbarbiturates in H2O-saturated diisopropyl ether. These chiral barbiturates were readily converted into the corresponding chiral N-methylbarbiturates such as (R)-(-)-mephobarbital and (S)-(+)-hexobarbital.