Patent ID: 8546112

Claim:
A process for the stereoselective enzymatic hydrolysis of 5-methyl-3-nitromethyl-hexanoic acid ester (VIII) in which racemic 5-methyl-3-nitromethyl-hexanoic acid ester (VIII) is contacted with an enzyme to result in the (R)-enantiomer of 5-methyl-3-nitromethyl-hexanoic acid ester (VIII) and form the (S)-enantiomer of a 5-methyl-3-nitromethyl-hexanoic acid salt, wherein R 1 is an alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl group, and wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of esterase from hog liver, lipase A from Candida Antarctica , esterase from pig liver and esterase EstC from Burkholderia gladioli.