Enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of benzoyl-benzoin catalyzed by Candida cylindracea (CCL) lipase was carried out in SCCO2. It was found that CCL lipase enantioselectively hydrolyzed the (R)-benzoin. The enantiomeric excess of product (ee(p)) was maximized at 35 degrees C near the critical region 90 bar and obtained 61.3% at a 50% conversion. CCL did not catalyze the reaction in an atmospherical condition. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.