New cyclopentene-diols and new acyl esters thereof and process for their preparation

A process for converting a diacyl ester of cyclopent-1-en-3,5-diol to its monoacyl ester and/or its diol which comprises subjecting a diacyl ester of cyclopent-1-en-3,5-diol of the formula ##STR6## wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon residue of 1-10 carbon atoms, said diacyl ester of cyclopent-1-en-3,5-diol containing at least one member of the group consisting of

• 1. a diacyl ester of (R)-trans-cyclopent-1-en-3,5-diol,
• 2. a diacyl ester of (S)-trans-cyclopent-1-en-3,5-diol, and
• 3. a diacyl ester of cis-cyclopent-1-en-3,5-diol,
• to the action of a microorganism or enzyme having a selectivity in its rate of hydrolyzing the acyloxy group of (R) configuration and the acyloxy group of (S) configuration of said diacyl ester, selected from the group consisting of a yeast of the species Saccharomyces, a hydrolytic enzyme contained in the rinds of citrus fruits, a hydrolytic enzyme obtained from the filamentous fungus of the genus Aspergillus, or a hydrolytic enzyme contained in wheat germ.