Patent ID: 7129059

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′ represent H, an alkyl or aryl group, and n represents 0 or 1, with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity, a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor wherein the metal is of the groups 5–11 of the periodic system, and a formylating agent, whereby one of the enantiomers is selectively converted in the corresponding N-formyl compound of the formula wherein: R 1 , R 2 and Y are as defined in the compound of formula (1).