Patent ID: 7157255

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound of Formula (1) which comprises either a) the stereoselective reduction of a compound of Formula (2) to produce a compound of Formula (3), and b) esterification of the compound of Formula (3) in the presence of a compound of formula R″—O—COR′ and a lipase or hydrolase enzyme thereby to form the compound of Formula (1); or c) esterification of a compound of Formula (2) in the presence of a compound of formula R″—O—COR″ and a lipase or hydrolase enzyme thereby to form the compound of Formula (4), and d) the stereoselective reduction of a compound of Formula (4) to produce a compound of Formula (1) wherein X represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl linking group, R and R″ each independently represent an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, and R′ represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, wherein the substituents on any of the hydrocarbyl groups are selected from the group consisting of halo, alkoxy and oxo.