Process for the preparation of intermediates of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

1. A process for the preparation of compound of Formula-II comprising the steps of:

a) enzymatic enantioselective amidation of compound of Formula-III in presence of suitable enzyme to get amide compound of Formula-IV

wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 5 alkyl or aryl or arylalkyl group and wherein said suitable enzyme is Candida Antartica lipase;

b) transesterification of compound of Formula-IV into compound of Formula-V

wherein R 3 is C 1 -C 5 alkyl or aryl or arylalkyl group with proviso that R 3 is different than R 2 of Formula-IV;

c) protecting the hydroxy group with suitable hydroxy protecting group to get compound of Formula-VI

wherein X is a suitable protecting group;

d) converting the compound of Formula-VI into compound of Formula-VII; and

e) converting compound of Formula-VII into compound of Formula-II

wherein R 1 is carboxyl protecting group and X is defined above.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein lipase is Candida Antartica lipase B.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein R 3 is arylalkyl group in compound of Formula-V.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein transesterification of the compound of Formula-IV is carried out in presence of catalyst.

5. The process according to claim 4 , wherein catalyst is selected from tetramethyl orthotitanate, tetraethyl orthotitanate, tetrapropyl orthotitanate, tetraisopropyl orthotitanate, tetrabutyl orthotitanate or tetrabenzyl orthotitanate.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein compound of Formula-VI is converted into compound of Formula-VII by catalytic hydrogenation.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 5 alkyl group in compound of Formula-II.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein compound of Formula-II is further converted into HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is Rosuvastatin or Pitavastatin.