PURPOSE: To efficiently produce an optically active inden-l-ol useful as an intermediate, etc., for an inhibitor of HIV-1 proteases for treating AIDS by hydrolyzing a racemic 1-acyloxyindene in the presence of a lipase.
CONSTITUTION: A racemic 1-acyloxyindene of formula I (R1 is a 1-20C alkyl) (e.g. 1-acetoxyindene) and a lipase are suspended in a mixed solution of a 0.1M phosphoric acid buffer solution-acetone (9:1 vol./vol.) and the resultant suspension is stirred at 37°C for 48hr to carry out the hydrolysis. The prepared reactional solution is then filtered on Celite (R) to remove the lipase. The filtrate is subsequently extracted with diethyl ether and the extract solution is dried on magnesium sulfate. The solvent is then removed under a reduced pressure to treat the resultant residue according to a silica gel chromatography, fractionated and thereby separated into an (S)-acyloxyindene and (R)-inden-1-ol of formula II. Thereby, the objective optically active indenol of formula III useful as an intermediate, etc., for an inhibitor of HIV-proteases for a therapeutic agent for AIDS is obtained.
