Enzymatic resolution of racemic secondary cyclic allylic alcohols

The resolutions of five racemic cyclic alcohols: 6,6-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol (±)-5, 4,4-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol (±)-7, 5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol (±)-11 and isomeric trans-(±)-13 and cis-piperitols (±)-14 are presented. They were resolved by enzymatic esterification with vinyl esters or by enzymatic hydrolysis of their racemic esters in phosphate buffer. The following lipases were used as biocatalysts: Novozyme 435 (Candida antarctica), Amano PS (Burkholderia cepacia) and lipase from Candida cylindracea. All isomers of alcohols were obtained with at least 96% ee.     

Kinetic resolution of fluorinated propargyl alcohols by lipase-catalyzed enantioselective transesterification

In order to obtain optically active fluorinated propargyl alcohols, a lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution has been carried out. The effect of lipase types, organic solvents, reaction temperature, and acyl donors was examined in the lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-phenyl-3-butyn-2-ol. Various enantiomerically pure fluorinated propargyl alcohols have been successfully prepared in good enantiomeric excess (>84%) by Novozym 435-catalyzed transesterification with vinyl butanoate at 60 °C in n-hexane. In some cases, the enantiomeric purities were excellent (>99% ee).     

The influence of microwave irradiation on lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols

The influence of microwave irradiation on the Novozyme 435^® (Candida antarctica lipase) catalyzed kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols with different functional groups was studied in comparison to the use of conventional heating at 60 °C. p-Chlorophenyl acetate was used as an acyl donor and toluene as the solvent. (±)-1-Phenyl-1-propanol 1, (±)-1-(4-bromophenyl)-propan-1-ol 3, (±)-1-phenylbut-3-en-1-ol 5 and (±)-3-bromo-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4-dimethoxynaphthalene 7 were successfully resolved into their (S)-alcohols and (R)-esters, respectively, in good enantiomeric excess. Resolution of (±)-ethyl-5-(4-methoxybenyloxy)-3-hydroxypentanoate 9 afforded its (R)-alcohol and (S)-ester using this method. In addition, microwave-assisted lipase transesterification of meso-symmetric diol 11 effected desymmetrization to ester 12 with high enantiomeric excess. In all cases studied, the conversion value for the microwave-assisted lipase kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols was higher than that obtained using conventional heating.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols via oxidation with Yarrowia lipolytica strains

Cyclic and alicyclic racemic secondary alcohols are kinetically resolved via oxidation with Yarrowia lipolytica strains. The comparison of the oxidation reactions with the reductions of the corresponding ketones supports the hypothesis of the presence of two alcohol dehydrogenases with opposite enantioselectivity.     

Novel catalytic kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides to allylic alcohols

[formula: see text] The kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides via catalytic enantioselective rearrangement to allylic alcohols was investigated. Using the Li-salt of (1S,3R,4R)-3-(pyrrolidinyl)methyl-2-azabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane 1 as catalyst allowed both epoxides and allylic alcohols to be obtained in an enantioenriched form.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols catalyzed by chiral diaminodiphosphine-Ir(I) complexes

Chiral diaminodiphosphine-Ir(I) complexes were found to efficiently catalyze enantioselective oxidation of racemic secondary alcohols in acetone. In the presence of base, oxidative kinetic resolution of the alcohols proceeded smoothly with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98% ee) under mild conditions. [reaction: see text].     

Kinetic resolution of allylic alcohols using a chiral phosphine catalyst

[reaction: see text] The kinetic resolution of racemic allylic alcohols 3, 6, and 12--17 has been explored using the PBO catalyst 7 for activation of isobutyric anhydride. Trisubstituted allylic alcohols (12--15; 17) are the best substrates and react with an enantioselectivity of s = 32--82 at -40 degrees C.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols with chiral carboxylic acids and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

The DCC-esterification method has been used to kinetically resolve racemic mixtures of alcohols. With simple chiral carboxylic acids, such as O-aryl lactic acids, in the presence of various basic catalysts, mixtures of the enantiomerically enriched alcohols (e.e. <50%) and the corresponding esters (d.e.<70%) have been obtained.     

Kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols using amidine-based catalysts

Kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols has been traditionally achieved via enzymatic enantioselective esterification and ester hydrolysis. However, there has long been considerable interest in devising nonenzymatic alternative methods for this transformation. Amidine-based catalysts (ABCs), a new class of enantioselective acyl transfer catalysts developed in our group, have demonstrated, inter alia, high efficacy in the kinetic resolution of benzylic, allylic, and propargylic secondary alcohols and 2-substituted cycloalkanols, and thus provide a viable alternative to enzymes.     

Direct, enantioselective iridium-catalyzed allylic amination of racemic allylic alcohols

The direct route: Iridium-catalyzed direct conversion of branched allylic alcohols into enantioenriched branched primary allylic amines is highly regio- and enantioselective (see scheme; coe=cyclooctene).     

A chiral electrophilic selenium reagent to promote the kinetic resolution of racemic allylic alcohols

[reaction: see text] The first example of a kinetic resolution process promoted by electrophilic selenium reagents is reported. Racemic allylic alcohols react with half equivalents of a selenenylating agent in methanol leading to the regiospecific formation of the corresponding addition products with a very high level of facial selectivity (from 95:5 to 98:2 dr). The unreacted alcohols can be recovered in an optically enriched form (from 90 to 94% ee).     

Kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols using thioamide modified 1-methyl-histidine methyl ester

The low-molecular-weight and easily prepared N-thiobenzoyl 1-methyl-histidine methyl ester 3k was utilized to efficiently catalyze the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols. Comparison of the conformations of amide catalyst 3c and thioamide catalyst 3k was made to understand the origin of the improvement of the enantioselectivity by thioamide modification.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic allylic alcohols via iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation: scope,synthetic applications and insight into the origin of selectivity

Asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most commonly used tools in organic synthesis, whereas, kinetic resolution via asymmetric hydrogenation is less developed. Herein, we describe the first iridium catalyzed kinetic resolution of a wide range of trisubstituted secondary and tertiary allylic alcohols. Large selectivity factors were observed in most cases (s up to 211), providing the unreacted starting materials in good yield with high levels of enantiopurity (ee up to >99%). The utility of this method is highlighted in the enantioselective formal synthesis of some bioactive natural products including pumiliotoxin A, inthomycin A and B. DFT studies and a selectivity model concerning the origin of selectivity are presented.

Asymmetric hydrogenation is one of the most commonly used tools in organic synthesis, whereas, kinetic resolution via asymmetric hydrogenation was less developed.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols combining enzyme-catalyzed transesterification and zeolite-catalyzed racemization

Hydrophobic zeolite beta containing low concentrations of Zr or Al was found to be a good catalyst for the racemization of 1-phenylethanol. The formation of styrene as a side product could be minimized by reducing the metal concentration in the zeolite beta. Combined with an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica, the dynamic kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol to the (R)-phenylethylester can be achieved with high yield and selectivity. The reaction was best conducted in toluene as solvent at 60 degrees C, with higher temperatures leading to a loss in the enantioselectivity of the formed ester. By using high-molecular-weight acyl-transfer reagents, such as vinyl butyrate or vinyl octanoate, a high enantiomeric excess of the product esters of 92 and 98 %, respectively, could be achieved. This is attributed to a steric effect: the bulky ester is less able to enter the pore space of the zeolite catalyst where the active sites for racemization are localized. Close to 100 % conversion of the alcohol was achieved within 2 h. If the more common acyl donor, isopropenyl acetate, was used, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the formed ester was only 67 %, and the reaction was considerably slower.     

Kinetic resolution of allylic alcohols via stereoselective acylation catalyzed by lipase PS-30

By using lipase PS-30 as catalyst, the kinetic resolution of a series of racemic allylic alcohols has been achieved via stereoselective acylation. The value of kinetic enantiomeric ratio (E) reached up to 968. Substituent effect is briefly discussed.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of allylic alcohols from unsymmetrical and symmetrical racemic allylic carbonates featuring C-O-bond formation and dynamic kinetic resolution

Described is the asymmetric synthesis of the allylic alcohols 11 (85% ee), 15 (99% ee), 17 (93% ee), 19 (61% ee), and 21 (69% ee) through a Pd-catalyzed reaction of the unsymmetrical carbonates rac-10, rac-12, rac-14, rac-16, rac-18, and rac-20, respectively, with KHCO₃ and H₂O in the presence of bisphosphane 6. Similarly the allylic alcohols 23 (99% ee) and 25 (97% ee) have been obtained from the symmetrical carbonates rac-22 and rac-24, respectively. Reaction of the meso-biscarbonate 26 with H₂O and Pd(0)/6 afforded alcohol 27 (96% ee), which was converted to the PG building block 32. The unsaturated bisphosphane 33 showed in the synthesis of alcohols 36, 37, and 39 a similar high selectivity as 6. The formation of alcohols 11, 15, and 17 involves an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Kinetic resolution of sterically hindered secondary alcohols catalyzed by aminophosphinite organocatalyst

Kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols by benzoylation using a phosphinite derivative of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol as the catalyst was investigated. The aminophosphinite catalyst is effective for the kinetic resolution of aryl cycloalkyl carbinols with a small number of examples for organocatalytic kinetic resolution to achieve resolution with s = up to 44. Although the benzoylation of phenylalkanols proceeded with a low selectivity, 1-arylalkanols bearing at least one substituent at the ortho position on the benzene ring or a branched alkyl group on the carbinol carbon were resolved with acceptable selectivity.     

Combining lipase-catalyzed enantiomer-selective acylation with fluorous phase labeling: a new method for the resolution of racemic alcohols

Lipase-catalyzed acylation of racemic alcohols with a highly fluorinated acyl donor allows their kinetic resolution accompanied by the simultaneous enantiomer-selective fluorous phase labeling. Both the tagged and the untagged enantiomer can be separated without chromatography by a very efficient partition between a fluorous and an organic phase. The method has been successfully applied to the resolution of typically racemic secondary alcohols of low molecular weight. The fluorous label can be recovered quantitatively.     

Highly enantioselective aminoacylase-catalyzed transesterification of secondary alcohols

The aminoacylase (N-acyl-l-amino acid amidohydrolase; E.C. 3.5.1.14) from Aspergillus melleus, a readily available inexpensive enzyme, catalyzes the transesterification of a wide range of chiral secondary arylalkanols with essentially absolute stereoselectivity (E>500). Moreover, the productivities obtained with 1-phenylethanol, 1-phenylpropanol, 1-(1-naphthyl)ethanol and 1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol were substantially higher than those in the corresponding lipase-catalyzed transesterifications.