Controlled racemization of optically active organic compounds: Prospects for asymmetric transformation

Model-based characterization of an amino acid racemase fromPseudomonas putida DSM 3263 for application in medium-constrained continuous processes

The amino acid racemase with broad substrate specificity from Pseudomonas putida DSM 3263 was overproduced and characterized with respect to application in an integrated multi-step process (e.g., dynamic kinetic resolution) that--theoretically--would allow for 100% chemical yield and 100% enantiomeric excess. Overexpression of the racemase gene in Escherichia coli delivered cell free extract with easily sufficient activity (20-50 U mg(-1) total protein) for application in an enzyme membrane reactor (EMR) setting. Model-based experimental analysis of a set of enzyme assays clearly indicated that racemization of the model substrates D- or L-methionine could be accurately described by reversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The corresponding kinetic parameters were determined from progress curves for the entire suitable set of aqueous-organic mixtures (up to 60% methanol and 40% acetonitrile) that are eligible for an integrated process scheme. The resulting kinetic expression could be successfully applied to describe enzyme membrane reactor performance under a large variety of settings. Model-based calculations suggested that a methanol content of 10% and an acetonitrile content of 20% provide maximum productivity in EMR operations. However product concentrations were decreased in comparison to purely aqueous operation due to decreasing solubility of methionine with increasing organic solvent content. Finally, biocatalyst stability was investigated in different solvent compositions following a model-based approach. Buffer without organic content provided excellent stability at moderate temperatures (20-35 degrees C) while addition of 20% acetonitrile or methanol drastically reduced the half-life of the racemase.

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution and Desymmetrization Processes: A Straightforward Methodology for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Piperidines

A straightforward procedure for the synthesis of enantiopure polysubstituted piperidines is reported. It involves the direct generation of chiral non-racemic oxazolo[3,2-a]piperidone lactams that already incorporate carbon substituents on the heterocyclic ring and the subsequent removal of the chiral auxiliary. The key step is a cyclocondensation reaction of (R)-phenylglycinol or other amino alcohols with racemic or prochiral delta-oxo (di)acid derivatives in highly stereoselective processes involving dynamic kinetic resolution and/or desymmetrization of diastereotopic or enantiotopic ester groups.

Thiyl Radical Mediated Racemization of Nonactivated Aliphatic Amines

The racemization of nonactivated aliphatic amines has been mediated with alkanethiols and with methyl thioglycolate in the presence of AIBN. The process involves reversible H-abstraction at the chiral center, in a position alpha relative to nitrogen, by thiyl radical. The knowledge of the reaction enthalpy is critical to select the appropriate thiol. In the absence of experimental values, theoretical calculations of the alpha-C-H BDEs and the S-H BDE provide a useful guide.

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the chiral herbicide: (S)-metolachlor

A chemoenzymatic approach for the production of (S)-metolachlor, one of the most widely used herbicides, has been developed. The starting material (S)-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)alanine was obtained by the use of lipase-catalyzed hydrolytic kinetic resolution. Under the optimal conditions, the good activity and excellent enantioselectivity of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B,E > 100) are achieved in diethyl ether – water (15% v/v), which is about 9.7-fold more enantioselective than that in a pure buffered aqueous solution (E = 12.1). After a simple extraction procedure is used to separate the acid product from the remaining ester, the remaining ester is racemized, providing the basis for the continuous resolution process. Then (S)-metolachlor is synthesized by a simple chemical method using the enantiomerically pure (S)-acid.Key words: (S)-metolachlor, herbicide, CAL-B, (S)-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)alanine, resolution.

Biocatalytic approaches for the quantitative production of single stereoisomers from racemates

Strategies for the chemoenzymatic transformation of a racemate into a single stereoisomeric product in quantitative yield have been developed. A range of industrially relevant α-hydroxycarboxylic acids was deracemized in a stepwise fashion via lipase-catalysed enantioselective O-acylation, followed by mandelate racemase-catalysed racemization of the remaining non-reacted substrate enantiomer. Alternatively, aliphatic α-hydroxycarboxylic acids were enzymatically isomerized using whole resting cells of Lactobacillus spp. Enantioselective hydrolysis of rac-sec-alkyl sulphate esters was accomplished using novel alkyl sulphatases of microbial origin. The stereochemical path of catalysis could be controlled by choice of the biocatalyst. Whereas Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639 act through inversion of configuration, stereo-complementary retaining sulphatase activity was detected in the marine planctomycete Rhodopirellula baltica DSM 10527.

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Primary Amines

An efficient process for dynamic kinetic resolution of amines was developed by combining a ruthenium-catalyzed racemization with a lipase-catalyzed resolution. A variety of unfunctionalized primary amines were transformed into one enantiomer of the amide in high yield and high enantioselectivity.

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Acyloins

[Reaction: see text]. Acyloins (alpha-hydroxy ketones) are important building blocks in organic synthesis, e.g., for the total synthesis of epothilones. Optically pure acyloins can be obtained by lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution (KR) of the racemate with, for example, Burkholderia cepacia lipase, but this process suffers from a yield limitation of 50%. To devise a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR), we studied the racemization of two different acyloins and corresponding esters with various amine bases and ion exchangers. No combination of base and solvent was found that could selectively racemize the acyloin or corresponding ester under the conditions needed for a DKR. In contrast to bases, acidic resins (ARs) were found to racemize the acyloins selectively in n-hexane and in water. Unfortunately, the AR deactivated the lipase, preventing a one-pot DKR. Minor side reactions involving the AR, the substrate acyloin, and the vinyl ester acyl donor were also observed. However, an efficient DKR was made possible by the spatial separation of lipase and ion exchanger, with enzymatic transesterification and AR-catalyzed racemization taking place simultaneously in two compartments connected by a pump loop. The conversion of substrate alcohol was 91%, the selectivity toward the product butyrate ester 90%, and the enantiomeric excess of the (S)-product 93% ee.

Biocatalytic Racemization of Aliphatic, Arylaliphatic, and Aromatic α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acids

[reaction: see text] Biocatalytic racemization of a range of aliphatic, (aryl)aliphatic, and aromatic alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids was accomplished by using whole resting cells of a range of Lactobacillus spp. The mild (physiological) reaction conditions ensured an essentially "clean" isomerization in the absence of side reactions, such as elimination or decomposition. Whereas straight-chain aliphatic 2-hydroxycarboxylic acids were racemized with excellent rates (up to 85% relative to lactate), steric hindrance was observed for branched-chain analogues. Good rates were observed for aryl-alkyl derivatives, such as 3-phenyllactic acid (up to 59%) and 4-phenyl-2-hydroxybutanoic acid (up to 47%). In addition, also mandelate and its o-chloro analogue were accepted at a fair rate (45%). This biocatalytic racemization represents an important tool for the deracemization of a number of pharmaceutically important building blocks.

Acid Zeolites as Alcohol Racemization Catalysts: Screening and Application in Biphasic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution

Acid zeolites were screened as heterogeneous catalysts for racemization of benzylic alcohols. The most promising zeolites appeared to be H-Beta zeolites, for which the optimal reaction conditions were studied in further detail. The zeolite performance was compared to that of homogeneous acids and acid resins under similar reaction conditions. In a second part of the research, H-Beta zeolites were applied in dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of 1-phenylethanol, which was conducted by means of a two-phase approach and which resulted in yields smoothly crossing the 50% border up to 90%, with an enantiomeric excess of >99%. To explore the applicability of this biphasic methodology, several other substrates were examined in the standard racemization reaction and in the biphasic dynamic kinetic resolution.

Biocatalytic racemisation of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids at physiological conditions

Biocatalytic racemisation of aliphatic, aryl-aliphatic and aromatic alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids was accomplished using whole resting cells of Lactobacillus paracasei DSM 20207; the mild (physiological) reaction conditions ensured an essentially 'clean' isomerization in the absence of side reactions, such as elimination or decomposition.

Copper(ii)-mediated resolution of α-halo carboxylic acids with chiral O,O′-dibenzoyltartaric acid: spontaneous racemization and crystallization-induced dynamic resolution

Herein we present a new example of coordination-mediated resolution of racemic acids by a chiral acid. The reaction of copper(II) acetate monohydrate, optically pure O,O'-dibenzoyltartaric acid (DBTA) and racemic alpha-bromo-2-chlorophenylacetic acid (HL1) in acetonitrile solution afforded a binuclear copper(II) complex with D-DBTA dianion, alpha-bromo-2-chlorophenylacetate and acetate as ligands. After decomposition of the complex with acid, the optically active acid ((R)-HL1) was obtained. Similarly, alpha-bromo-2-fluorophenylacetic acid (HL2), alpha-bromo-2-bromophenylacetic acid (HL3), alpha-chloro-2-chlorophenylacetic acid (HL4), alpha-chloro-2-fluorophenylacetic acid (HL5), alpha-bromophenylacetic acid (HL6), alpha-bromo-4-chlorophenylacetic acid (HL7), 2-bromopropionic acid (HL8) and 2-chloropropionic acid (HL9) were resolved by the same method. Satisfactory results were obtained for HL2 to HL5. For HL6 and HL7, only racemic acids were obtained. For the two alpha-halo aliphatic acids (HL8 and HL9), poor enantioselectivity was obtained. It is more interesting that three acids (HL1, HL2 and HL3) could spontaneously racemize in acetonitrile solution, which resulted in crystallization-induced dynamic resolution (CIDR) with greater than 50% yield.

New Resolution of 2-Formyl-1,4-DHP Derivatives Using CIDR Methodology. Facile Access to New Chiral Tricyclic Thiolactam

(R)- and (S)-alpha-phenylethylamine (alpha-PEA: 7) have been used separately to resolve successfully a racemate 2-formyl-1,4-DHP derivative 4. The process was based on the difference of the solubility of both Schiff bases (6) since one of them crystallized out from the solution. These imines obtained by condensation of (R)-alpha-PEA (7) or (S)-alpha-PEA (7) with aldehyde (rac-4) were separated and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and their exposition to an hydrochloric hydrolysis conditions led to the enantiopure (4R)-4 or (4S)-4 in excellent yields. Separate condensation of other chiral (8 and 13) and racemic (18) amino thiols as auxiliary with rac-4, (4S)-4, or (4R)-4 is accompanied by an in situ crystallization-induced dynamic resolution, whereby one distereomer of thiazole template selectively precipitates and can be isolated by simple filtration in 76-82% yield with dr > 99. The thiazole species isolated from this process resulted from an amino aldehyde condensation followed by a spontaneous thiol-imine cycloaddition. Finally, the racemate (+/-)-(4R,2'R)-19 and the diastereomerically pure homologous (4S,2'R)-23 and (4R,2'S)-20 (obtained in good yields (79-82%) from 2-aminoethanethiol (18) and 2-formyl-1,4-DHP derivative rac-4, (4S)-4, or (4R)-4, respectively) were converted conveniently in a one-pot procedure into newly tricyclic thiolactams in the DHP series in racemic ((+/-)-(6R,9bR)-21, 72% yield)) and enantiopure ((6S,9bR)-24, 71% yield); (6R,9bS)-24, 70% yield) forms.

Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution

During the past decade a new concept has appeared in asymmetric catalysis involving the combination of a biocatalyst and a chemocatalyst in one 'pot' leading to efficient deracemization via dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). Here, we outline the different strategies that have been developed for efficient chemoenzymatic DKR, in particular the powerful combination of an enzyme and a metal catalyst.

Aminocyclopentadienyl Ruthenium Complexes as Racemization Catalysts for Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols at Ambient Temperature

Aminocyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes, which can be used as room-temperature racemization catalysts with lipases in the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols, were synthesized from cyclopenta-2,4-dienimines, Ru(3)(CO)(12), and CHCl(3): [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHR)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (4: R = i-Pr; 5: R = n-Pr; 6: R = t-Bu), [2,5-Me(2)-3,4-Ph(2)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHR)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (7: R = i-Pr; 8: R = Ph), and [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHAr)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (9: Ar = p-NO(2)C(6)H(4); 10: Ar = p-ClC(6)H(4); 11: Ar = Ph; 12: Ar = p-OMeC(6)H(4); 13: Ar = p-NMe(2)C(6)H(4)). The tests in the racemization of (S)-4-phenyl-2-butanol showed that 7 is the most active catalyst, although the difference decreased in the DKR. Complex 4 was used in the DKR of various alcohols; at room temperature, not only simple alcohols but also functionalized ones such as allylic alcohols, alkynyl alcohols, diols, hydroxyl esters, and chlorohydrins were successfully transformed to chiral acetates. In mechanistic studies for the catalytic racemization, ruthenium hydride 14 appeared to be a key species. It was the major organometallic species in the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol with 4 and potassium tert-butoxide. In a separate experiment, (S)-1-phenylethanol was racemized catalytically by 14 in the presence of acetophenone.

Mild and efficient palladium(ii)-catalyzed racemization of allenes

Allenes undergo racemization in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(OAc)2/LiBr under mild conditions; the reaction proceeds via a bromopalladation-debromopalladation sequence and tolerates various functional groups.

A zeolite-enzyme combination for biphasic dynamic kinetic resolution of benzylic alcohols

Acid zeolites like H-Beta are efficient heterogeneous catalysts for racemization of benzylic alcohols in water; by combination of the racemization with an enzymatic kinetic resolution in a two-phase system, enantiomerically pure esters were obtained in high yield via a dynamic kinetic resolution.

Combined metal catalysis and biocatalysis for an efficient deracemization process

Driven by the demand to enhance the economic balance of chemical processes, the transformation of a racemate into a single stereoisomer (the deracemization process) is one of the most important areas of research. The recent development of the combined use of enzyme and metal catalysis has led to efficient deracemization processes. Dynamic kinetic resolution and cyclic deracemization processes have shown particular promise in this area.