Procedure for the production of amino alcohols

Production of optionally (1S,4R)- or (1R,4S)-1-amino-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclopentene (VII) or (VIII) (or their salts) involves biotechnological optical resolution of racemic 1-amino-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclopentene (I) using a hydrolase in presence of an acylating agent. Production of (1S,4R)- or (1R,4S)-1-amino-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclopentene of formula (VII) or (VIII) (or their salts) involves biotechnological optical resolution of racemic 1-amino-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclopentene of formula (I) using a hydrolase (specifically a lipase) in presence of an acylating agent.X, Y=H or acyl. Independent claims are included for: (1) preparation of (VII; X, Y= H) or (VIII; X, Y= H) (or their salts) comprising chemical hydrolysis of corresponding compounds in which at least one of X and Y is other than H; and (2) production of (VII; Y= H; X= COR) or (VII; Y= H; X= COR) by (a) reducing 2-azabicyclo-(2.2.1)-hept-5-en-3-one (II) (in racemic or optical isomer form) to racemic (I); (b) carrying out biotechnological optical resolution (I) using a hydrolase in presence of an acylating agent to give (VII; X,Y= H) or (VII; X,Y= H); and (c) acylating to give (VII; Y= H; X= COR) or (VII; Y= H; X= COR). R : 1-4C alkyl, 1-4C alkoxy, aryl or aryloxy. [Image].