Two Candida antarctica lipases catalyze the enantioselective acylation of N-substituted trans-4-(4‘-fluorophenyl)-3-hydroxymethylpiperidines in organic solvents. These two lipases show oppositestereochemical preference in these processes. Both enantiomers can be obtained in their opticallypure forms. The (3S,4R) isomer, is an intermediate for the synthesis of (−)-Paroxetine.
