The acetylation of 3-phenylthio-2-propanol (168 mg) was performed with vinyl acetate (1 ml) using different lipases from 15 degrees C to 51 degrees C. As a result, the (R)-enantiomer was selectively acetylated and the (S)-enantiomer was non-reactive in all the cases. An appropriate choice of conditions can be made to isolate both (R)-alcohol (ee 99%, 36 h, conversion 46%, sub/enz: 1/2) and (S)-alcohol (ee 93%, 38 h, conversion 46%, THF, sub/enz: 1 l(-1)) using Humicola lanuginosa lipase (Lipolase). Increasing the amount of enzyme increased the ee.