Synthesis, Enzymatic Resolution and Absolute Configuration of Ethyl trans‐3‐(Trifluoromethyl)pyroglutamate.

Abstract Ethyl trans -3-(trifluoromethyl)pyroglutamate 1 is synthesized in excellent yield; racemic 1 is enzymatically resolved with α-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis affording both the enantiomerically pure enantiomers. The absolute configuration is established by X-ray analysis of the corresponding trichloroethylester.