Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of the HMG‐CoA Reductase Inhibitor Rosuvastatin and Natural Styryl Lactone Cryptomoscatone E1

Racemic syn-ethyl (E)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-6-styryl-1,3-dioxan-4-yl)acetate is hydrolyzed with high enantioselectivity by Novozyme-435 in 0.05 M sodium phosphate buffer at room temperature. The optically pure unreacted ethyl 2-((4R,6S)-2,2-dimethyl-6-((E)-styryl)-1,3-dioxan-4-yl)acetate and hydrolysed (4S,6R)-acid are used in the synthesis of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor rosuvastatin and the naturally occurring styryllactone cryptomoscatone E1, respectively.