Candida antarctica (CAL-B) lipase-catalyzed resolution of 1,3-dialkyl-3hydroxymethyl oxindoles has been performed to obtain (R)-1,3-dialkyl-3acetoxymethyl oxindoles with up to 99% ee and (S)-1,3-dialkyl-3-hydroxymethyl oxindoles with up to 78% ee using vinyl acetate as acylating agent and acetonitrile as solvent transforming (S)-3-allyl-3-hydroxymethyl oxindole to (3S)-1 0-benzyl-5-(iodomethyl)-4,5-dihydro-2H-spiro[furan-3,3 0-indolin]-2 0-one. The optically active 3-substituted-3-hydroxymethyl oxindoles and spirooxindoles are among the key synthons in the synthesis of potentially biologically active molecules.