A SIMPLE METHOD FOR ENRICHING THE ENANTIOMERIC PURITY OF A FUNCTIONAL MOLECULE ALREADY RICH IN ONE ENANTIOMER

1-Naphth-1-ylethanol 1 of 92% enantiomeric excess (e.e.) can be raised to 99.6% e.e. in an overall yield of 78% by attaching it to oxalyl chloride, separating the lk diester from the ul by crystallisation, and hydrolysing the diester; the method is potentially general for functional molecules that can easily be attached to and then taken off a bifunctional reagent.