Lipase-mediated kinetic resolution of (RS)-1-bromo-3-[4-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-phenoxy]-propan-2-ol to (R)-1-bromo-3-(4-(2-methoxyethyl) phenoxy) propan-2-yl acetate

A novel biocatalytic method for the enantioselective synthesis of (R)-bromo-3-[4-(2-methoxy-ethyl) phenoxy]-2-propanol [(R)-BMEPP], a precursor for the synthesis of (S)-metoprolol, an anti hypertensive drug is described. We have developed kinetic resolution of rac-BMEPP by transesterification using Candida rugosa lipase and vinyl acetate as the acyl donor affording the product with excellent conversion (49%) and ee (>99%). Various reaction parameters (source of enzyme, reaction media, and concentration of substrate and acylating agent) for the enzymatic kinetic resolution have been reported.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of tetronic acid derivatives bearing a chiral quaternary carbon: total synthesis of (S)-(−)-vertinolide

We have developed a chemoenzymatic synthesis of (S)-vertinolide 1 with a chiral quaternary carbon atom at C5. In the kinetic resolution of tetronic acid precursor 6, lipase PS-D furnished the recovered alcohol 6 with an (R)-stereochemistry in a ratio of 95% ee, whereas lipase AY gave (S)-alcohol 6 with 93% ee. Chemical transformations of (S)-alcohol 6 provided (S)-vertinolide 1 in 33% yield in five steps with no loss of enantiomeric excess.     

Synthesis of (+)-goniothalamin and its enantiomer by combination of lipase catalyzed resolution and alkene metathesis

(+)-Goniothalamin has been synthesized by lipase catalyzed resolution of (1E)-1-phenylhexa-1,5-dien-3-ol using vinyl acrylate as acyl donor followed by ring closing metathesis of the formed (1R)-1-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]but-3-enyl acrylate. The unreacted alcohol from the resolution, (1E,3S)-1-phenylhexa-1,5-dien-3-ol, was esterified non-enzymatically, and used for synthesis of (−)-goniothalamin.     

Separation of secondary alcohols via enzymatic kinetic resolution using fatty esters as reusable acylating agents

A two consecutive step procedure for the resolution-separation of secondary alcohols employing ethyl tetradecanoate in the presence of lipase allowed the enzymatic kinetic resolution of two target molecules, 1-phenylethanol and 6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol. (S)-1-Phenylethanol was isolated in a yield of 47% with an ee of 94% and (R)-1-phenylethanol in a yield of 51% with an ee of 95%. (S)-6-Methylhept-5-en-2-ol was isolated in a yield 47% and an ee of 87% and (R)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol in a yield 49% and an ee of 90%.     

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by Ti(IV) complexes of C2-symmetrical chiral BINOL derivatives

Enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to a series of aromatic aldehydes is developed using new chiral C₂-symmetric ligand (S)-2,2′-(1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylbis(oxy))bis(methylene)bis(4-nitrophenol) (S)-2b. The catalytic system employing 10 mol % of (S)-2b and 120 mol % of Ti(OiPr)₄ was found to promote the addition of diethylzinc to a wide range of aromatic aldehydes with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, giving up to 89% ee and up to 95% yield of the corresponding secondary alcohol under mild conditions.     

Enzymatic reactions for the preparation of homocalycotomine enantiomers

Homocalycotomine enantiomers (R)-4 and (S)-4 were prepared by the Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)-catalysed asymmetric O-acylation of N-Boc-protected 2-(6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-yl)ethanol (±)-1. The preliminary small-scale experiments were performed either in a continuous-flow system or as batch reactions, while the preparative-scale resolution was carried out in two steps with vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in the presence of Et₃N and Na₂SO₄ in toluene at 3 °C, as a batch reaction. Treatment of the resulting amino alcohol (S)-1 and amino ester (R)-3 (ee ?94%) with 18% HCl, and then with 5 M NaOH, furnished the desired (R)-4 and (S)-4 without a decrease in the enantiomeric excess (ee ?94%).     

Enzymatic resolution of trans-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarbonitrile in supercritical carbon dioxide

A novel, highly enantioselective (E ? 100) and environmentally benign method is presented for the kinetic resolution of trans-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarbonitrile in supercritical carbon dioxide. Using Candida antarctica Lipase B as a biocatalyst and vinyl acetate as an acyl donor, enantiomerically pure (1S,2R)-acetoxycyclohexanecarbonitrile and (1R,2S)-hydroxycyclohexanecarbonitrile were obtained in quantitative yields and excellent ee (98%) values.     

Alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with 2-bromo-2-phenyl-gem-dichlorocyclopropane

The alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with 2-bromo-2-phenyl-gem-dichlorocyclopropane in the presence of catalytic quantities of aluminum chloride was found to afford the corresponding 2-aryl-3-phenyl-1,1-dichloroprop-1-enes. It was shown that the yield of the alkylation products depended on the nature of substituents in the aromatic ring. Compared with the thermal heating, microwave irradiation allows reducing the reaction time and increasing the yield of the corresponding 2-aryl-3-phenyl-1,1-di-chloroprop-1-enes, wherein the ortho-/para-isomers ratio changes.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine

Facile chemoenzymatic enantioselective synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylaminopyrrolidine, a key intermediate for a new quinolone antitumor compound AG-7352 has been described. This methodology illustrates the preparation of 3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine starting from diallylamine via 1-benzyloxycarbonyl-3-pyrroline obtained by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) employing Grubbs’ catalyst. Enzymatic transesterification employing PS-C lipase gave (3S,4S)-3-azido-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine in >99% ee, which upon methylation of the hydroxyl group followed by sequential reactions gave the desired intermediates, (3S,4S)-1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-methoxypyrrolidine.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of optically active γ-alkyl-γ-butenolides

rac-Hept-1-en-3-ol 4 was subjected to an enantioselective esterification in the presence of Novozyme 435 and vinyl crotonate as the acyl donor to give (3S)-oct-1-en-3-yl crotonate 7 in >99% ee and (3R)-alcohol 4 in 99% ee. The E-value of this enzymatic reaction was found to be >1000. The (S)-crotonic ester 7 was converted by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) using Grubbs’ catalyst to give (S)-oct-2-en-4-olide 1 in 96% yield while keeping the high enantiomeric excess.     

Transformations of gem-dichloroarylcyclopropanes in the reaction with NOCl·2SO3. Synthesis of 3-aryl-5-chloroisoxazoles

Nitrosation with complex NOCl·2SO₃ of gem-dichloroarylcyclopropanes containing acceptor substituents in the aromatic ring proceeded chemo- and regioselectively affording 3-aryl-5-chloroisoxazoles in high yields. The presence of donor substituents complicated the reaction by the occurrence of competing processes.     

Substituent effect on the stereoselectivity of acylation of racemic heterocyclic amines with N-phthaloyl-3-aryl-(S)-alanyl chlorides

The acylative kinetic resolution of racemic 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline and 2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-4H-1,4-benzoxazine using acyl chlorides of N-phthaloyl-(S)-phenylalanine, N-phthaloyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-(S)-alanine and N-phthaloyl-O-methyl-(S)-tyrosine as chiral resolving agents has been carried out. It is shown that the effectiveness of an acylative kinetic resolution depends on the electronic effects of substituents in the phenyl fragment of the acylating agent and increases as the electron-donating properties of the para-substituent (OMe > H > NO₂) in phenyl fragment of N-phthaloyl-3-aryl-(S)-alanyl chlorides increase; conducting the process at a reduced temperature also contributes to an enhancement of the kinetic resolution.     

Acylative kinetic resolution of racemic amines using N-phthaloyl-(S)-amino acyl chlorides

A comparative study of the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline and 2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-4H-1,4-benzoxazine using N-phthaloyl-(S)-amino acyl chlorides as chiral acylating agents is described. Temperature and solvent effects on the stereochemical features have been examined. It has been found that N-phthaloyl-(S)-phenylalanyl and N-phthaloyl-(S)-2-phenylglycyl chlorides bearing aromatic substituents close to the stereogenic centre are more stereoselective acylating agents than N-phthaloyl-(S)-alanyl chloride. For the preparative kinetic resolution of racemic amines N-phthaloyl-(S)-phenylalanyl chloride proved to be the most appropriate chiral acylating agent.     

Deracemisation of β-hydroxy esters using immobilised whole cells of Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330: substrate specificity and mechanistic investigation

Deracemisation of aryl substituted β-hydroxy esters by immobilised whole cells of Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 gave >99% ee and up to 75% yield of their corresponding (S)-enantiomers. Mechanistic investigation of the deracemisation reaction carried out using a deuterated substrate, ethyl 3-deutero-3-hydroxy-3-phenyl propanoate revealed that while the (S)-enantiomer remains unreacted the (R)-enantiomer undergoes enantioselective oxidation to its corresponding ketoester, which on complementary enantiospecific reduction gives the (S)-enantiomer in high yield and % ee.     

The synthesis of (R)- and (S)-α-trifluoromethyl-α-hydroxycarboxylic acids via enzymatic resolutions

Kinetic resolution of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-alkanone cyanohydrin acyl derivatives with Candida rugosa lipase afforded the remaining (R)-enantiomer in high selectivity (E from 30 to >200). Candida rugosa lipases from several suppliers were compared and found to differ remarkably in their selectivity. The (R)-enantiomer was hydrolyzed in one step to yield optically pure (R)-α-trifluoromethyl-α-hydroxycarboxylic acids in excellent yield. The (S)-acids were obtained in good e.e. by subtilisin-catalyzed resolution of the corresponding racemic esters followed by chemical hydrolysis of the remaining (S)-esters.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic 2-(2-furyl)-2-hydroxyethyl acetate in the presence of PS lipase

Kinetic resolution of racemic 2-(2-furyl)-2-hydroxyethyl acetate by transesterification with vinyl acetate in the presence of Amano PS lipase, yielding (1R)-1-(2-furyl)ethane-1,2-diol diacetate with 98% ee and (2S)-2-(2-furyl)-2-hydroxyethyl acetate with >99% ee, is described.     

Regioselective synthesis of 2-unsubstituted 1-aryl-4- and 1-aryl-5-acylimidazoles

An efficient and simple method for the synthesis of 2-unsubstituted 1-aryl-4- and 1-aryl-5-acylimidazoles has been developed. It consists in the condensation of α-diketone monooximes with aromatic amines and formaldehyde on the presence of boron trifluoride etherate, leading to the formation of stable boron trifluoride complexes of N-oxides. Further reduction of these complexes led to the corresponding imidazoles. This method permits broad variations of substituents in the aryl part of these compounds.     

Highly efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary aromatic alcohols with low-cost and easily available acid resins as racemization catalysts

A new and efficient dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) process of secondary aromatic alcohols was developed with acid resins as racemization catalysts. Acid resin CD8604 was shown to have excellent racemization activity and good biocompatibility. When employing CD8604 and complex acyl donors as racemization catalyst and acyl donor, respectively, enantiomerically pure aromatic acetate was obtained with excellent yield and ee values through the DKR process. It is noteworthy that the system could be reused more than 10 times with little loss of yield and ee value.     

Removal of the acyl donor residue allows the use of simple alkyl esters as acyl donors for the dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

The dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols using a lipase and a ruthenium catalyst as developed by Bäckvall required some improvements to make it suitable for its use in an industrial process. The use of p-chlorophenyl acetate as acyl donor is not desirable in view of the toxicity of the side product. We herein report that simple alkyl esters can be used as acyl donors if the alcohol or ketone residue formed during the enzymatic acylation is continuously removed during the reaction. The addition of a ketone speeds up the racemisation process and allowed us to reduce the amounts of enzyme and ruthenium catalyst. The scope of this method was explored and a suitable range of acyl donors found. Various benzylic and aliphatic alcohols were reacted using isopropyl butyrate or methyl phenylacetate as acyl donor and in most cases the ester was isolated in >95% yield and 99% ee. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the alcohol by-products of the enzymatic resolution could be used as the hydrogen source in the asymmetric reductive transesterification of ketones.     

Lipase catalyzed chemo-enzymatic synthesis of propranolol: A newer enzymatic approach

The biocatalytic processes are greener and safer alternatives for synthesis of drug and drug intermediates. This study reports one such approach of chemo-enzymatic synthesis of propranolol, a β-adrenergic receptor blocker. A green synthetic route was employed for synthesis of propranolol using enzymatic kinetic resolution. Racemic mixture of secondary alcohol [1-chloro-3-(naphthalen-1-yloxy)propan-2-ol] (RS)-5 was synthesized chemically in two step reaction and further its enzymatic kinetic resolution was carried out by using lipase to synthesize enantiomeric forms (R)-5 and S-(6) of propranolol. The kinetic resolution of (RS)-5 involves the transesterification of secondary racemic alcohol in which vinyl acetate is used as acyl donor. Initially, we screened commercially available lipases for kinetic resolution and of all the screened lipases Addzyme 001 showed the best results. The several reaction parameters such as organic solvent, acyl donor, temperature, reaction time and enzyme concentration were optimized to improve rate of reaction and to achieve maximum enantioselectivity. Addzyme 001 at 40 mg shows the maximum conversion rate of 49% using cyclohexane as the organic solvent, vinyl acetate as the acyl donor and it was found that the reaction yield was higher for (R)-5 along with the (S)-6 (eep = 98%, ees = 97%) at 40 °C in 48 h. Further, the treatment of (R)-5 with isopropyl amine resulted into formation of (S)-propranolol eep = 98%, and overall yield 29% independently. To synthesize (R)-propranolol, S-(6) acetate was produced enzymatically and was further deacylated by chemical hydrolysis for the production of (R)-propranolol. This study reports newer approach for synthesis of (R) and (S) propranolol using chemoenzymatic route.