Enantioselective hydrolysis of (RS)-isopropylideneglycerol acetate with Kluyveromyces marxianus

The hydrolysis of (RS)-isopropylideneglycerol acetate with whole cells of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus is reported. The biotransformation furnished (R)-isopropylideneglycerol as major enantiomer with good enantioselectivity (E ¼ 28) under optimised conditions. The reaction can be performed in an ultrafiltration-membrane reactor allowing for the obtainment of 19.2 g/L of enantiomerically pure (R)-isopropylideneglycerol acetate starting from 60 g/L of racemic mixture.