Chemoenzymatic access to enantiomeric bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2,5-diones.

A practical integrated process, combining an enzymatic resolution step with a few chemical transformations, is described for the synthesis of (1R, 4R)- and (2S, 4S)-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2,5-diones 1 of high enantiomeric purity, starting from a standard mixture of (+/-)-endo- and exo-2-acetoxy-5-norbornene.