Process for the enzymatic resolution of lactams

Method for separating lactam esters enantiomeric of formula (II): R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, which may optionally be substituted by one or more of the following: alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy alkoxy, thiol, thioalkoxy, and halogen; L is selected from the group consisting of no group or alkylene, alkenylene and alkynylene; wherein L may optionally be substituted by one or more of the following: alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, thiol, thioalkoxy, halogen, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, arylamino, aminoaryl, alkylaminoaryl, cyano and haloalkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of (CH2) p CH = CH; p = 1 to 4; Y is selected from the group consisting of NH, O, (CH2) q and CH = CH; q = 1 to 2; Z is selected from the group consisting of (CH2) v and CH = CH; v = 1 to 2; R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, thiol, thioalkoxy, halogen, nitro, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, cyano, and haloalkyl, wherein all said substitutions may be optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halogen, alkyl, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminoalkyl, hydroxy and alkoxy; It comprising contacting the lactam esters with a biocatalyst in an aqueous solution, in an organic solvent or in a mixture of organic and aqueous solvents, where only selectively hydrolyze one of the enantiomers to provide the optically active isomer of the corresponding acid and separating the hydrolysis product from the unreacted lactam esters, wherein the biocatalyst is derived from thermostable enzymes.