Process for resolution of chiral alcohols or phenols or chiral lactonic compounds

A process of resolving chiral alcohols or phenols of the formula ZOH or chiral lactonic compounds of the formula ##STR18## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of bicyclic hydrocarbon chain of 5 to 10 carbon atoms optionally containing one unsaturation, radicals ##STR19## wherein Y and Y' are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, bromine, chlorine and alkyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms or taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a carbon homocycle of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, the chain A can contain one or more chiral atoms or the lactone moiety can present a chirality due to the dissymetric spatial configuration of the whole of the molecule and Z is derived from hydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic primary, secondary or tertiary alcohols and a substituted phenol containing at least one asymetric carbon atom or having a chirality due to the dissymetric spatial configuration of the whole of the molecule, with the proviso Z is not (R) or (S) .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxy-benzyl when A is ##STR20## comprising reacting a lactonic compound of the formula ##STR21## wherein A has the above definition and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of an acid with a phenol or alcohol of the formula

• Z--OH
• wherein Z has the above definition to obtain either a mixture of diastereoisomers of the formula I ##STR22## named I.sub.B when the lactone is a well defined optical isomer and the chiral centers of the alcohol or phenol do not have an unequivocal configuration or a mixture of diastereoisomers of formula I named I.sub.C when the alcohol or phenol is a well defined optical isomer and the chiral atoms of the lactone does not have an unequivocal configuration and then separating by physical methods the diastereoisomeric ethers contained either in the mixture of type I.sub.B or in the mixtures type I.sub.C, submitting to acid hydrolyiss the diastereoisomeric ethers thus separated to obtain the resolved alcohols or phenols if the chiral centers of the starting alcohol or phenol does not have an unequivocal configuration or the resolved lactonic compounds if the chiral atoms of the lactone does not have an unequivocal configuration.