Enzymes in organic synthesis, 19. The enzyme‐catalyzed sequential esterification of (±)‐ anti ‐2,4‐dimethylglutaric anhydride. – An efficient route to enantiomerically enriched mono‐ and diesters of anti ‐2,4‐dimethylglutaric acid

(±)‐ anti ‐2,4‐Dimethylpentanedioic anhydride ( rac ‐ 1 ) was converted in good yields and with high enantiomeric excess by an enzyme‐catalyzed sequential esterification into the (2 R ,4 R )‐monoester 2 and the (2 S ,4 S )‐diester ent ‐ 3 . Best results were obtained with Novozym 435, a lipase from Candida antarctica .