Lipase-mediated resolution of substituted 2-aryl-propanols: application to the enantioselective synthesis of phenolic sesquiterpenes

A comprehensive study of the lipase-mediated resolution of substituted 2-aryl-propanols is reported. The latter alcohols were submitted to the irreversible acetylation catalyzed either by PPL, CRL, or lipase PS. The enantioselectivity of these transformations was dependent on the type of lipase used. The type of substituents and particularly their position on the aromatic ring strongly affected the selectivity of the reaction. The experiments described prove that PPL is the more versatile lipase catalyzing the acetylation with an enantiomeric ratio (E) value that ranges from 1 up to 144, depending on the substrate used. Conversely, the same transformations were catalyzed by CRL and lipase PS with an enantiomeric ratio value, which is always less than 5. The remarkable behavior of PPL was exploited in the large scale resolution of some substituted 2-aryl-propanols whose enantiomeric forms are relevant building blocks in the enantioselective synthesis of phenolic sesquiterpenes. By these means, the synthesis of (S)-turmeronol B and the formal syntheses of (R)-curcumene, (R)-curcuphenol, (R)-xanthorrhizol, and (R)-curcuhydroquinone were accomplished.     

One-pot synthesis of tetrahydrochromene derivatives catalyzed by lipase

An efficient and green one-pot synthesis route for tetrahydrochromene derivatives was developed. Lipase from Porcine pancreas (PPL) shows excellent catalytic activity and exerts good adaptability to different substrates in the reaction. All the reactions go smoothly and provide tetrahydrochromene derivatives with isolate yield up to 97% under room temperature. This lipase-catalyzed multistep conversion method has provided a new strategy to synthesize chromene derivatives and expanded the application of enzyme in organic synthesis.     

Convenient synthesis of Z-monoacetates of 2-alkylidene-1,3-propanediols

Various kinds of 3-substituted (Z)-hydroxymethyl-2-propenyl acetates were conveniently obtained in excellent yields by highly regioselective hydrolysis of 2-alkylidene-1,3-propylene diacetates in the presence of 100 w/w % of porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) Type II.     

Enzyme-mediated enantioselective hydrolysis of soluble polymer-supported dendritic carbonates

The easy separation of optically active compounds from enzymatic kinetic resolution products by simple precipitation using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-supported dendritic carbonates is disclosed. The water-soluble polymer-supported substrates were prepared by immobilization of (±)-1-phenylethanol onto a monomethoxy PEG (MPEG; av MW 5000) bearing a dendritic spacer through a carbonate linker. The enantioselective hydrolysis of the dendritic substrates of the 1st and 2nd generations using lipase from porcine pancreas (PPL; Type II, Sigma) smoothly proceeded, and a multimolecule of the corresponding (R)-alcohols was released from one molecule of the racemic substrates. The E values of the reactions at 0 °C in a mixed solvent (hexane/buffer = 9/1) were up to >200.     

Lipase‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of 6(S)‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione

Lipase‐catalyzed ring‐opening bulk polymerizations of 6(S)‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione (MMD) were investigated. Selected commercial lipases were screened as catalysts for MMD polymerization at 100 °C. Polymerizations catalyzed with 10 wt % porcine pancreatic lipase type II crude (PPL), lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia, and lipase type VII from Candida rugosa resulted in MMD conversions of about 75% in 3 days and in molecular weights ranging from 8200 to 12,100. Poly(6‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione) [poly(MMD)] had a carboxylic acid group at one end and a hydroxyl group at the other end. However, lipase from Mucor javanicus showed lower catalytic activity for the polymerization. During the polymerization, racemization of the lactate residue took place. PPL was selected for further studies. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing PPL concentration under otherwise identical conditions. When the PPL concentration was 5 or 10 wt % with respect to MMD, a conversion of about 70% was reached after 6 days or 1 day, respectively, whereas for a PPL concentration of 1 wt %, the conversion was less than 20% even after 6 days. High concentrations of PPL (10 wt %) resulted in high number‐average molecular weights (<3 days); with a lower concentration of PPL, lower molecular weight poly(MMD) was obtained. The concentration of water was an important factor that controlled not only the conversion but also the molecular weight. With increasing water content, enhanced polymerization rates were achieved, whereas the molecular weight of poly(MMD) decreased. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3030–3039, 2005     

Enzymatic ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate catalyzed by PPL immobilized on silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles were first used as the carrier for the porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) immobilization. The result of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the immobilized lipase was still in nanosize after enzyme immobilization. The ring-opening polymerization of 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) catalyzed by this immobilized PPL (IMPPL) was explored. ¹H NMR spectra suggested no evidence of decarboxylation during propagation. Influences of IMPPL concentration and reaction temperature on the molecular weight and yield of poly(DTC) were studied. The recovery and reuse of IMPPL for the ring-opening polymerization of DTC was also investigated. The recycling IMPPL showed even higher catalytic activity and a higher molecular weight of polycarbonate could be achieved.     

Kinetic resolution of poly(ethylene glycol)-supported carbonates by enzymatic hydrolysis

The enzyme-mediated enantioselective hydrolysis of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-supported carbonates is disclosed. The water-soluble carbonates were prepared by immobilization of a racemic secondary alcohol (4-benzyloxy-2-butanol) onto low-molecular weight (av MW 550 and 750) monomethoxy PEG through a carbonate linker. For the screening of the hydrolytic enzymes, the substrate was enantioselectively hydrolyzed by commercially available lipase from porcine pancreas (PPL; Type II, Sigma) to afford the optically active compounds. In this system, the separation of the remaining (S)-substrate and the resulting (R)-alcohol was achieved by an extraction process without a laborious column chromatography. The (S)-carbonate was easily hydrolyzed with K₂CO₃ to afford the corresponding (S)-alcohol. Other MPEG-supported substrates were also hydrolyzed to afford the corresponding optically active alcohols.     

聚ε-己内酯的微米硅球固定化猪胰脂肪酶促合成

本文采用微米硅球固定化猪胰脂肪酶为催化剂合成聚ε-己内酯, 以期获得具有较高分子量、 良好生物相容性和使用安全性的生物可降解医用高分子材料.     

Catalytic oxidation of p-xylene with molecular oxygen in the presence of N-hydroxyphthalimide

Relationships of p-xylene oxidation in the presence of N-hydroxyphthalimide and Co(II) and Mn(II) salts were studied. The activity of the catalytic system strongly depends on the volume of the ligand incorporated in the salt. The synergism in combined use of Co(II) and Mn(II) salts is observed only in the step of p-toluic acid oxidation, whereas replacement of a half of the Co(II) salt by the Mn(II) salt in p-xylene oxidation leads to additive increase in the reaction rate.     

Chiral nickel(II) complex catalyzed asymmetric (3 + 2) cycloaddition of α‐diazo pyrazoleamides with 2‐siloxy‐1‐alkenes

A highly efficient asymmetric (3 + 2) cycloaddition of α-diazo pyrazoleamides with silyl enol ethers was realized by employing a chiral N,N'-dioxide-Ni(II) complex catalyst. The process includes the formation of chiral nickel carbenoid intermediate and the following enantioselective cycloaddition reaction. The desired dihydrofuran O,O-acetal derivatives were obtained in good yields (up to 90%) with high enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) under mild reaction conditions within short reaction time. On the basis of the determination of the catalyst structure, a possible transition state mode was proposed.     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Polymerization of 3(S)‐sec‐Butylmorpholine‐2,5‐dione

Lipase‐catalyzed ring‐opening bulk polymerizations of 3(S)‐sec‐butylmorpholine‐2,5‐dione (BMD) were investigated. Selected commercial lipases were screened as catalysts for BMD polymerization at 110°C. Polymerizations catalyzed with 10 wt.‐% of lipase PPL and PC result in BMD conversions of about 70% and in molecular weights of the products ranging from 5 500 to 10 700. Lipases MJ, CR and ES showed lower catalytic activities for the polymerization of BMD. Poly(3‐sec‐butylmorpholine‐2,5‐dione) has a carboxylic acid group at one end and a hydroxy group at the other end. During the polymerization racemization of the isoleucine residue takes place. Lipase PPL was selected for a more detailed study. The apparent rate of polymerization increases with increasing PPL concentration when the polymerization temperature is 110°C. When the PPL concentration is 5 and 10 wt.‐% with respect to the monomer, a conversion of about 70% is reached after 5 d and 3 d, respectively, while for a PPL concentration of 1 wt.‐% the conversion is less than 7% even after 6  d. High concentrations of PPL (10 wt.‐%) result in high M_n values (< 4  d). The highest molecular weight poly(BMD), M_n = 19 900, resulted from a polymerization conducted at 120°C with 5 wt.‐% PPL for 6 d. The general trend observed by varying the polymerization temperature is as follows: (i) monomer conversion and M_n increase with increasing reaction temperature from 110 to 125°C, (ii) monomer conversion and M_n decrease with an increase in reaction temperature from 125 to 130°C. Water content was found to be an important factor that controls both the conversion and the molecular weight. With increasing water content, enhanced polymerization rates are achieved while the molecular weight of poly(BMD) decreases.     

New method for detection and spectrophotometric determination of quinones

The reaction between 3-phenylthiazolidine-2,4-dione (I) and p-benzoquinone (II), tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (III), and 1,4-naphthoquinone (IV) in ammoniacal medium is applied for detection and spectrophotometric determination of quinones. The absorbance-concentration relationship is linear up to 18 μg/ml of quinone concentration. The lower limits of identification in the detection reaction are 2.5, 3.0, and 1 μg for (II), (III), and (IV), respectively, which reflect high sensitivity. The reaction between (I) and quinones is proved to be a condensation reaction and highly selective.     

Modular ligands in asymmetric synthesis. Copper-mediated cyclopropanation

The chiral imidazoline/copper catalyst system efficiently mediates asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanations. Complexes derived from (R,R)- or (S,S)-1,1-diphenylethylenediamine, cyclic ketones, and Cu(I) or Cu(II) triflates were compared. The reaction between (−)-menthyl diazoacetate and 1,1-diphenylethylene affords cyclopropane carboxylates in up to 80% yield and with up to 78% de.     

Practical synthesis of blepharismone,a mating inducing pheromone of Blepharisma japonicum

Both enantiomers of blepharismone, a mating inducing pheromone produced by type II cells of Blepharisma japonicum, were synthesized via the Stille cross-coupling reaction of [4-(tert-butyl-dimethyl-silanyloxy)-2-trimethylstannanyl-phenyl]-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester with an acid chloride derived from (S)- and (R)-malic acid as a key reaction. The mating inducing activity of synthetic (S)-blepharismone was as effective as that of the natural one. The enantiomer (R)-blepharismone showed no mating inducing activity.     

Tuning the anticancer activity of maltol-derived ruthenium complexes by derivatization of the 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone moiety

Organometallic ruthenium(II)-arene complexes coordinated to maltol-derived ligands were prepared and their anticancer activity against human tumor cell lines was studied. In addition, their hydrolysis behavior and reaction with 5′-GMP was tested and compared to the parent compound chlorido[2-methyl-3-(oxo-κO)-pyran-4(1H)-onato-κO4](η⁶-p-cymene)ruthenium(II) (Ru-maltol). Improved stability and in vitro anticancer activity at maintained GMP binding capability were observed, in comparison to the Ru-maltol complex.     

Enantioselective enzymatic resolution of racemic alcohols by lipases in green organic solvents

The effects of two eco-friendly solvents, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), on the enzyme activity and enantioselectivity of Novozym 435, Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL), Lipase AK, Lipase PS, and Lipozyme, a series of commercial lipases, in the enantioselective transesterfications of racemic menthol, racemic sulcatol and racemic α-cyclogeraniol were studied. Vinyl acetate was chosen as the acyl donor and the reactions were carried out at water activity 0.06. The activity of lipases in CPME was similar to that observed in other largely employed organic solvents [toluene and tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE)], and was slightly lower in MeTHF. However, for most of the lipases tested, the enantioselectivity was higher in the eco-friendly solvents. Lipase AK exhibited a high enantioselectivity (E = 232) for the resolution of racemic menthol but the reaction rate was low. Lipase formulation (the enzyme was frozen and lyophilized in potassium phosphate buffer without and with 5% (w/v) of sucrose, d-mannitol, or methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)) was tested with this lipase in order to improve its activity, which increased up to 4.5 times, compared to the untreated enzyme. CALB was found to be a useful biocatalyst for the resolution of racemic sulcatol, where high activity and enantioselectivity were obtained (E ≥ 1000). For the resolution of the racemic primary alcohol α-cyclogeraniol, most of the lipases tested were active but not enantioselective, except lipase PS which displayed a moderate enantioselectivity (E = 19). The effect of the presence of a low percentage of two ionic liquids (ILs) 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIM][TFSI]) (5% (v/v)) and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) (1% (v/v)) in the medium was also investigated. Only in the case of CRL the ILs slightly increased the enantioselectivity from E = 91 to E = 103 and E = 120 for [BMIM][TFSI] and [BMIM][BF4], respectively. However, in all cases ILs caused a decrease of enzyme activity.     

Iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes bearing N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-quinolin-8-amine derivatives: Synthesis and application to ethylene oligomerization

A series of tridentate NˆNˆN iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes containing N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-quinolin-8-amine derivatives were synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. The molecular structure of 1a was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. On treatment with modified methylaluminoxane, these metal complexes exhibited good catalytic activities up to 2.8 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹(Fe) h⁻¹ for ethylene oligomerization, and butenes were the major products with nice selectivity for 1-C₄. The steric and electronic effects on catalytic activities of metal complexes were carefully investigated as well as the influence of various reaction parameters. In the catalytic system, Fe(II) complexes performed better catalytic activities than their Co(II) analogues. With ligands having bulky substituents, the better catalytic activity was observed in catalytic system of Fe(II) complex, however, the lower catalytic activity was obtained in catalytic system of Co(II) complexes.     

Synthesis of functional polycarbonates by lipase-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization

Poly(5-benzyloxy-trimethylene carbonate) (PBTMC), a new functional polycarbonate was synthesized by enzymatic ring-opening polymerization in bulk at 150°C using Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) or Candida rugosa lipase (CL) as catalyst. Influences of different polymerization conditions such as the source of enzyme, enzyme concentration and polymerization time on the molecular weight and yield were studied. The results showed that PPL exhibited higher activity than CL. Both higher molecular weight(Mn, 18953) and yield(98%) could be obtained by the use of PPL as catalyst. ¹H NMR spectrum showed no decarboxylation occurrence during the ring-opening polymerization.     

Mn(II)-sodium dodecyl sulphate complex mimic enzyme-catalyzed fluorescence quenching of Pyronine B by hydrogen peroxide

Mn(II)-sodium dodecyl sulphate complex (Mn(II)-SDS) is used to mimic the active group of peroxidase. The catalytic characteristic of this mimic enzyme catalyst in the oxidation reaction of fluorescence substrate, tetraethyldiaminoxanthyl chloride (Pyronine B (PB)), with hydrogen peroxide has been studied. The experimental results show that Mn(II)-SDS complex has similar catalytic activity that of peroxidase. The steady-state catalytic rate depends upon mimic enzyme and substrate concentrations, and the Michaelis-Menten parameters K_m, V_max and K_cat are 7.6×10⁻⁶ M, 7.9×10⁻⁷ M s⁻¹ and 7.9 s⁻¹, respectively. The catalytic activity of Mn(II)-SDS complex is compared with those of HRP and Hemin. Though the catalytic activity of Mn(II)-SDS complex is 15.9% of that of HRP, it can catalyze the oxidation reaction of PB with hydrogen peroxide lead to fluorescence quenching of PB. Under optimum conditions, linear relationship between fluorescence quenching F₀/F and concentration of H₂O₂ is in the range of (0.0-3.6) × 10⁻⁷ M. The detection limit is determined to be 3.0×10⁻⁹ M. By coupling this mimic catalytic reaction with the catalytic reaction of glucose oxidase (GOD), glucose can be detected. Linear relationship between F₀/F and concentration of glucose is in the range of (0.0-1.4) × 10⁻⁷ M. The detection limit is determined to be 4.2×10⁻⁹ M. This method is applied to the determination of glucose in human serum and the results are in good agreement with the phenol-4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP).     

Copper(II) trans-bis-(glycinato): an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for cross coupling of phenols with aryl halides

Copper(II) trans-bis-(glycinato) complex, easily prepared by the solid state reaction of copper(II) acetate and glycine (trans-[Cu(glyo)₂·H₂O]) was found to be an efficient, recyclable, and high yielding catalyst for the Ullmann type synthesis of diaryl ethers via the cross coupling of phenols with aryl halides without using any additives at relatively low reaction temperature. The catalyst could easily be recovered by simple filtration and was reused for several runs with consistent catalytic activity.