A process for preparing an optically active cineole derivative

A process for preparing an optically active compound of formula (II-R),

• or an optically active compound of formula (II-S),
• wherein
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and unsubstituted or substituted alkyl and
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and unsubstituted or substituted alkyl;
• said process comprises at least the steps of:
• (i) reacting a mixture comprising a compound of formula (II)
• wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above, with an acylating agent in the presence of a hydrolase to obtain a mixture containing the first enantiomer of the compounds of formula (II) in acylated form and the second enantiomer of the compounds of formula (II) in unacylated form;
• and
• (ii) isolating the second enantiomer of the compound of formula (II) in unacylated form from the mixture of step (i) to obtain an optically active compound of formula (II-R) or an optically active compound of formula (II-S) and a mixture containing the first enantiomer of the compounds of formula (II) in acylated form.

An optically active compound of formula (IIa-R),

• or an optically active compound of formula (IIa-S),
• wherein,
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and unsubstituted or substituted alkyl;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and unsubstituted or substituted alkyl;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and —COOR′;
• wherein R′ is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted alkyl;
• and
• n is 1 to 16.