“…Schneider and co-workers firstly described the diastereoselective resolution of (2S, 3S)-MBHB and (2R, 3S)-MBHB isomers by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using toluene/ethyl acetate (1:2, v/v) as eluent [19]. Then indirect HPLC using sample derivatization with (+)-(R)-␣-methoxy-␣-(trifluoromethyl) phenylacetic acid (MTPA) esters of MBHB prior to injection onto achiral chromatography columns, Nucleosil 100-3 and Deverosil 100-3 [16,20], has been described for the enantioselective separation of MBHB; however, it is inconvenient and time consuming thus not suitable for screening biocatalysts. Subsequently, direct HPLC methods have been developed for the enantioselective separation of MBHB [7] and structural analogs involved ethyl-2-benzoylamide-3-hydroxybutanoate [15,21,22], ethyl-2-benzamidomethyl-4-fluoro-3-hydrobutanoate [6] and ethyl-2-(benzamidomethyl)-3-oxo-phenyl propanoate [15], using Chiralcel OD column, Chiralpak AD column or Chiralpak IA column.…”