Abstract
In the enantioselective hydrolysis of the di-O-acetyl derivatives of meso-1,3-diol catalyzed by lipases, racemization of the monoacetate products occurs due to non-enzymatic general base-catalyzed acyl migration. The rate of acyl migration increases with increase of pH and buffer concentration. A mechanism of the migration has been proposed to proceed through a six-member ring transition that accounts for the experimental results. The acyl migration, however, was not observed in the enantioselective transesterification of meso-1,3-diols in neutral organic solvents.