Enzymatic resolution of thiazole-containing vinyl carbinols. Synthesis of the C12–C21 fragment of the epothilones

An operationally simple enzymatic kinetic resolution has been applied in an efficient synthesis of C12–C21 fragment of epothilones. The key step, a lipase resolution, has been employed on three different thiazole-containing vinyl carbinol substrates to give highly enantiomerically enriched alcohols bearing the key C15 stereocenter.