Biocatalytic Synthesis of Optically Active Hydroxyesters via Lipase-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Aldol Reaction and Kinetic Resolution

Biocatalytic decarboxylative Michael addition for synthesis of 1,4-benzoxazinone derivatives

The Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) is found to catalyze a novel decarboxylative Michael addition in vinylogous carbamate systems for the synthesis of 1,4-benzoxazinone derivatives. The reaction goes through Michael addition, ester hydrolysis and decarboxylation. A possible mechanism is suggested, with simultaneous lipase-catalyzed Michael addition and ester hydrolysis. The present methodology offers formation of complex products through multi-step reactions in a one pot process under mild and facile reaction conditions with moderate to high yields (51–90%) and no side product formation. The reaction seems to be is a great example of enzymatic promiscuity.

CALB Immobilized onto Magnetic Nanoparticles for Efficient Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Secondary Alcohols: Long-Term Stability and Reusability

In this study, an immobilization strategy for magnetic cross-linking enzyme aggregates of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) was developed and investigated. Magnetic particles were prepared by conventional co-precipitation. The magnetic nanoparticles were modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to obtain surface amino-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (APTES⁻Fe₃O₄) as immobilization materials. Glutaraldehyde was used as a crosslinker to covalently bind CALB to APTES⁻Fe₃O₄. The optimal conditions of immobilization of lipase and resolution of racemic 1-phenylethanol were investigated. Under optimal conditions, esters could be obtained with conversion of 50%, enantiomeric excess of product (ee_p) > 99%, enantiomeric excess of substrate (ee_s) > 99%, and enantiomeric ratio (E) > 1000. The magnetic CALB CLEAs were successfully used for enzymatic kinetic resolution of fifteen secondary alcohols. Compared with Novozym 435, the magnetic CALB CLEAs exhibited a better enantioselectivity for most substrates. The conversion was still greater than 49% after the magnetic CALB CLEAs had been reused 10 times in a 48 h reaction cycle; both ee_s and ee_p were close to 99%. Furthermore, there was little decrease in catalytic activity and enantioselectivity after being stored at -20 °C for 90 days.

Kinetic Resolution of β-Hydroxy Carbonyl Compounds via Enantioselective Dehydration Using a Cation-Binding Catalyst: Facile Access to Enantiopure Chiral Aldols

A practical and highly enantioselective nonenzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic β-hydroxy carbonyl (aldol) compounds through enantioselective dehydration process was developed using a cation-binding Song's oligoethylene glycol (oligoEG) catalyst with potassium fluoride (KF) as base. A wide range of racemic aldols was resolved with extremely high selectivity factors ( s = up to 2393) under mild reaction conditions. This protocol is easily scalable. It provides an alternative approach for the syntheses of diverse biologically and pharmaceutically relevant chiral aldols in enantiomerically pure form. For example, racemic gingerols could participate in this kinetic resolution with superb efficiency ( s > 240), affording both enantiomerically pure gingerols and corresponding shogaols simultaneously in a single step. The dramatic effectiveness of such kinetic resolution process can be ascribed to systematic cooperative hydrogen-bonding catalysis in a densely confined supramolecular chiral cage in situ generated from the chiral catalyst, substrate, and KF.

One-pot bienzymatic cascade combining decarboxylative aldol reaction and kinetic resolution to synthesize chiral β-hydroxy ketone derivatives

A bienzymatic one-pot cascade was constructed for the synthesis of chiral β-hydroxy ketones with up to 99% ee and theoretical yields.

Recent Advances in Biocatalytic Promiscuity: Hydrolase-Catalyzed Reactions for Nonconventional Transformations

Enzymes have emerged in recent decades as ideal catalysts for synthetic transformations under mild reaction conditions. Their capacity to accelerate a myriad of biotransformations with high levels of selectivity and broad substrate specificity including excellent atom economy has led to a current full recognition. The six classes of enzymes (oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases and ligases) possess outstanding abilities to perform specific modifications in target molecules. Nevertheless, in the last fifteen years, novel examples have appeared related to nonconventional processes catalyzed by various classes of biocatalysts. Amongst these, hydrolases have received special attention since they display remarkable activities in initially unexpected reactions such as carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond-formation reactions, oxidative processes and novel hydrolytic transformations. In this review, the main findings in this area will be disclosed, highlighting the catalytic properties of hydrolases not only to catalyze single processes but also multicomponent and tandem nonconventional reactions.

High enantioselective Novozym 435-catalyzed esterification of (R,S)-flurbiprofen monitored with a chiral stationary phase

Lipases form Candida rugosa and Candida antarctica were tested for their application in the enzymatic kinetic resolution of (R,S)-flurbiprofen by enantioselective esterification. Successful chromatographic separation with well-resolved peaks of (R)- and (S)-flurbiprofen and their esters was achieved in one run on chiral stationary phases by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In this study screening of enzymes was performed, and Novozym 435 was selected as an optimal catalyst for obtaining products with high enantiopurity. Additionally, the influence of organic solvents (dichloromethane, dichloroethane, dichloropropane, and methyl tert-butyl ether), primary alcohols (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol), reaction time, and temperature on the enantiomeric ratio and conversion was tested. The high values of enantiomeric ratio (E in the range of 51.3-90.5) of the esterification of (R,S)-flurbiprofen were obtained for all tested alcohols using Novozym 435, which have a great significance in the field of biotechnological synthesis of drugs. The optimal temperature range for the performed reactions was from 37 to 45 °C. As a result of the optimization, (R)-flurbiprofen methyl ester was obtained with a high optical purity, eep = 96.3 %, after 96 h of incubation. The enantiomeric ratio of the reaction was E = 90.5 and conversion was C = 35.7 %.