Patent ID: 7018817

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity which comprises contacting a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral compound of formula 1 wherein: R 1 represents an alkyl or an aryl group R 2 represents H, an alkyl or an aryl group Y represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, (CH 2 ) n COOH, (CH 2 ) n —COOR, (CH 2 ) n —CONRR′, CH 2 OH, or C≡N wherein R and R′ independently represent H, an alkyl or aryl group, and n represents 0 or 1, with an enzyme which is a peptide deformylase and with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor, wherein the metal is a metal of the groups 5–11 of the periodic system, wherein one of the enantiomers is selectively deformylated, and wherein the compound with enhanced optical purity is of the formula wherein R 2 , R 1 and Y are as in the compound of formula (1).