Asym. Darzens reactions carried out under phase-transfer catalysis conditions were critically reviewed. Use of the conc. aq. soins. of alkali metal hydroxides or solid hydroxides as bases and the chiral quaternary ammonium salts as catalysts was taken into consideration. Reactions of benzaldehyde with chloroacetic acid esters were presented as examples. An enzymic method for sepn. of Z and E isomers of 3-phenylglycidic esters and enantiomers of Z isomer of methyl 3-phenylglycidate by using lipase was developed.