Patent ID: 7063977

Claim:
A method for the resolution of a mixture comprising the enantiomers of formulas Ia and Ib , wherein R 1 is the cis position relative to t-butyl group in both formulas Ia and Ib: or where R 1 is in the trans position relative to t-butyl group in both formulas IIa and IIb: where R 1 is —O—C(O) alkyl, —O—C(O) aryl or —O—C(O) cycloalkyl; comprising the steps of (a) contacting said mixture with a carboxylic ester hydrolase enzyme which is a microbial amidase, or a microorganism which produces the amidase, wherein said enzyme catalyzes the stereoselective hydrolysis of said mixture to provide a mixture of two compounds in which in one compound R 1 is —O—C(O) alkyl, —O—C(O)-aryl or —O—C(O) cycloalkyl and in the other compound R 1 is hydroxy, and (b) recovering one or both of said compounds.