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.     

Single-step purification of different lipases from Staphylococcus warneri

Three different lipases from the extract crude of Staphylococcus warneri have been purified by specific lipase–lipase interactions using different lipases (TLL, RML, PFL, BTL2) covalently attached to a solid support as adsorption matrix. BTL2 immobilized on glyoxyl-DTT adsorbed selectivity only a 30 kDa lipase from the crude, which was desorbed by adding 0.1% triton X-100. Using glyoxyl-PFL as matrix, two new lipases (28 and 40 kDa) were adsorbed, and completely pure 40 kDa lipase was obtained after desorption using 0.01% triton, whereas 28 kDa lipase was desorbed after the incubation of the lipase matrix with 3% detergent. When using other matrixes as glyoxyl-TLL or glyoxyl-RML, different lipases were adsorbed. This methodology could be a very efficient and useful method to purify several lipases from crude extracts from different sources.     

Efficient resolution of profen ethyl ester racemates by engineered Yarrowia lipolytica Lip2p lipase

Enzyme-catalyzed enantiomer discrimination is still a great challenge for the development of industrial pharmaceutical processes. For the resolution of ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen racemates, three major anti-inflammatory drugs, only lipases from Candida rugosa present a high selectivity if solvent and surfactant use is discarded. However, their catalytic activities are too low. In the present work, we demonstrate that the lipase Lip2p from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has a higher catalytic activity than C. rugosa lipases to hydrolyze the ethyl esters of ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen, but its selectivity is not sufficient [E = 52 (S); 11 (S) and 1.5 (R) respectively]. The enantioselectivity was further improved by site-directed mutagenesis, targeted at the substrate binding site and guided by molecular modelling studies. By investigating the binding modes of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers in the active site, two amino acid residues located in the hydrophobic substrate binding site of the lipase, namely residues 232 and 235, were identified as crucial for enantiomer discrimination and enzyme activity. The (S) enantioselectivity of Lip2p towards ethyl ibuprofen esters was rendered infinite (E ? 300) by replacing V232 by an A or C residue. Substitution of V235 by C, M, S, or T amino acids led to a great increase in the (S)-enantioselectivity (E ? 300) towards naproxen ethyl ester. Finally, the variant V232F enabled the efficient kinetic resolution of ethyl ketoprofen ester enantiomers [(R)-enantiopreference; E ? 300]. In addition to the increase in selectivity, a remarkable increase in velocity by 2.6, 2.7 and 2.5 times, respectively, was found for ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen ethyl esters.     

Highly enantioselective enzymatic resolution of aromatic β-amino acid amides with Pd-catalyzed racemization

The kinetic resolution of an aromatic β-amino acid amide 3a–d via N-acylation was explored with two lipases, Candida antarctica lipase A (CALA) and Pseudomonas stutzeri lipase (PSL). The PSL-catalyzed resolution proceeded with excellent enantioselectivity (E = >400) to give both acylated products and unreacted substrates in enantiopure forms. Three additional aromatic β-amino acid amides 3b–d were also resolved by PSL with a high level of enantioselectivity (E = >200). The PSL-catalyzed resolution of 3a was coupled with a Pd-catalyzed racemization to obtain enantiopure N-acylated product (R)-4a (>99% ee) in high yield (90%).     

Esterification of (RS)-Ibuprofen by native and commercial lipases in a two-phase system containing ionic liquids

Four commercially available lipases and two native lipases from Aspergillus niger AC-54 and Aspergillus terreus AC-430 were used for the resolution of (RS)-Ibuprofen in systems containing the ionic liquids [BMIM][PF₆] and [BMIM][BF₄]. The lipases showed higher conversion in a two-phase system using [BMIM][PF₆] and isooctane compared to that in pure isooctane. Although the best enzyme was a commercially available lipase from Candida rugosa (E = 8.5), another native lipase, produced in our laboratory, from A. niger gave better enantioselectivity (E = 4.6) than the other lipases tested (E = 1.9–3.3.). After thorough optimization of several reaction conditions (type and ratios of isooctane/ionic liquid, amount of enzyme, and reaction time), the E-value of A. niger lipase (15% w/v) could be duplicated (E = 9.2) in a solvent system composed of [BMIM][PF₆] and isooctane (1:1) after 96 h of reaction.     

Resolution of 2-bromo-o-tolyl-carboxylic acid by transesterification using lipases from Rhizomucor miehei and Pseudomonas cepacia

Several lipases were screened for their ability to catalyze the enantioselective transesterification of 2-bromo-o-tolyl acetic acid. Amongst the preparations tested, the lipases from Rhizomucor miehei and Pseudomonas cepacia were selected. The best enantioselectivity was obtained with Rhizomucor miehei lipase immobilized on polypropylene (E=11.3), which was more stereoselective than the free form. Hydrophobic solvents with log P higher than 2.5 were the most suitable giving the highest E-values. In addition, factors such as the water activity and the reaction temperature had little effect on the resolution of the racemic mixture. The selectivity of the enzymes with respect to the substrate was also only weakly affected by the structure of the leaving alcohol except in the case of the iso-propyl group, which causes high steric hindrance. Operating conditions under reduced pressure were defined to resolve the racemic mixture with immobilized Rhizomucor miehei lipase.     

First chemoenzymatic synthesis of (R)- and (S)-1-(9H-fluoren-9-yl)ethanol

A simple chemoenzymatic synthesis of 1-(9H-fluoren-9-yl)ethanol stereoisomers is described. The enantiomers were resolved by a kinetically controlled transesterification with vinyl acetate in the presence of commercially available lipases. High-throughput screening and subsequent exhaustive investigation of the utility of the lipases in a stereoselective process of introducing chirality have been carried out. Lipase A from Candida antarctica as a cross-linked aggregate (CAL-A-CLEA) was the most efficient enzyme for the resolution of the title compound providing (S)-1-(9H-fluoren-9-yl)ethanol and its (R)-acetate in enantiopure form (>99% ee). Under mild reaction conditions, excellent enantioselectivity (E = 407), and good isolated yields of the products were obtained.     

The effect of the migrating group structure on enantioselectivity in lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol

We have studied the effects of the acyl moiety on the enantioselectivity of three lipases: Candida antarctica B, Pseudomonas cepacia and Candida cylindracea, frequently used in kinetic resolutions by acylation or hydrolysis. The size of the acyl group was examined using various enol esters during the transesterification of 1-phenylethanol and the hydrolysis of the corresponding phenylethylesters. C. antarctica-B lipase showed the highest selectivity in the transesterification of 1-phenylethanol with isopropenyl and vinyl acetate, vinyl decanoate, vinyl laurate, (E > 200). The esters 1-phenyl -ethyl-acetate, decanoate and laurate are also hydrolyzed with high selectivities (E > 150) with CAL-B. The results can be correlated to the three-dimensional form of each lipase. The effect of the migrating group on the reactivity and selectivity of the lipases are discussed for both reactions.     

Chemoenzymatic approach to enantiopure piperidine-based β-amino esters in organic solvents

This research concentrates on the enantioselectivities of lipase-catalysed reactions with methyl esters of 2-piperidylacetic acid and 3-piperidinecarboxylic acid derivatives. N-Acetylated 2-piperidylacetic acid methyl ester displayed good enantioselectivity (E = 66) in a 1:1 mixture of diisopropyl ether and butyl butanoate in the presence of lipase PS-C II from Burkholderia cepacia. The reaction is known as interesterification with butyl butanoate rather than alcoholysis with the butanol, because butyl butanoate has to be first hydrolysed or go through alcoholysis with MeOH in order to release butanol. Other N-protective groups (Boc, Ns, Fmoc and Bzn) gave excellent enantioselectivity (E >200) under the same conditions, and a gram-scale resolution was performed with N-Boc-2-piperidylacetic acid methyl ester. Reaction with a 3-piperidylcarboxylic acid derivative took place with disappointingly low enantioselectivity (E = 4), with Candida antarctica lipase B being the best of the lipases screened.     

Efficient <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida rugosa</Emphasis> lipase immobilization on Maghnite clay and application for the production of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">1R</Emphasis>)-(−)-Menthyl acetate

This work focused on the identification of natural, economical, and efficient supports for immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) to catalyze the resolution of (±)-menthol. To this purpose, CRL has been immobilized on natural montmorillonite from Algeria (Maghnite-H), ion-exchange resins (Amberjet^®1200-H and Amberjet^®4200-Cl), and diatomaceous earth (Celite^®545). After a preliminary screening of supports, the immobilization of CRL led to a markedly improved enantioselectivity. Excellent enantioselectivity (E ≥ 134) was achieved by the four supported lipases (E = 68 for free enzyme). Compared to the three other supports tested, higher enantioselectivity was observed with Maghnite-H used as immobilization matrix. In this work, the effects of solvent, reaction time, and temperature, on the conversion as well as on enantioselectivity were investigated. The maximum of conversion (% C = 43%) with high enantiomeric excess of products (eep > 99) was obtained when the reaction is catalyzed by CRL immobilized on Maghnite-H at 30 °C for 24 h, and using toluene as selected solvent. Immobilized CRL on Maghnite-H exhibited good thermostability over a wide temperature range (30–90 °C) compared to the free one. These results suggest that CRL immobilized on Maghnite-H has good potential as biocatalyst for the production of (1R)-(?)-menthyl acetate.     

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic cyanohydrins via enantioselective acylation

Enzymatic kinetic resolution of a series of aromatic and aliphatic cyanohydrins in organic media has been investigated. The behavior of potential lipases, molecular sieves, acyl reagent, reaction temperature, and organic solvents on the kinetic resolution was studied. The influence of substrate structure, steric, and electronic nature and position of the aryl substituent on the enantioselectivity was discussed. Under the optimized reaction conditions, good enantioselectivity could be achieved for most of the investigated compounds. Specifically, substrates 1a, 1c, 1d, 1f, 1u could be resolved with the kinetic enantiomer ratio (E) higher than 200.     

Two efficient ways to 2-O- and 5-O-feruloylated 4-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranosides as substrates for differentiation of feruloyl esterases

4-Nitrophenyl 2-O-(E)-feruloyl-α-l-arabinofuranoside 1 and 4-nitrophenyl 5-O-(E)-feruloyl-α-l-arabinofuranoside 2 have been synthesized by two different routes. Monoferuloylation was accomplished by a chemoenzymatic sequence employing a regioselective transesterification catalyzed by lipases. The feruloyl group was introduced to enzymatically prepared 2,3- and 3,5-diacetates of 4-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranoside by reaction with 4-O-acetylferuloyl chloride. Removal of the protecting acetyl groups yielded 1 and 2. An alternative chemical synthesis suitable for preparation of larger quantities of 1 and 2 also is presented. The new substrates represent convenient tools to differentiate feruloyl esterases on the basis of their substrate specificity.     

On the use of succinic anhydride as acylating agent for practical resolution of aryl-alkyl alcohols through lipase-catalyzed acylation

A comparison is carried out of the E-values recorded in the lipase-catalyzed resolution of a series of secondary aryl-alkyl alcohols with enol esters versus succinic anhydride. Whereas all the substrates could be resolved by a proper choice of the lipase/enol ester couple with moderate (E=50) to good (E>100) enantioselectivities, only some of them showed satisfactory enantioselectivity (E>50) with the use of succinic acid as acylating agent. Notably, indanol and 1-quinolin-3-yl-ethanol were resolved in a practical way, with E>100 and E>80, respectively.     

Enantioselective enzyme catalysed ammoniolysis of amino acid derivatives. Effect of temperature

The lipases from Candida antarctica (B type), Thermomyces lanuginosus and Pseudomonas alcaligenes catalysed the enantioselective ammoniolysis of free amino acid esters. In the ammoniolysis of phenylalanine methyl ester catalysed by T. lanuginosus lipase a decrease in temperature to −20°C significantly enhanced the enantioselectivity up to an enantiomeric ratio (E) of 84. Several proteases efficiently catalysed the ammoniolysis of N-BOC protected amino acid esters with nearly absolute enantioselectivity.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically enriched aminoalkenols and glycosides thereof

1-t-Butoxycarbonylamido-3-pentene-1-ol 3 and 2-azido-4-phenyl-3-butene-1-ol 4 were enantiomerically enriched by enzymatic acetylation using various lipases and esterases (CHIRAZYM) to give acetylated compounds 5 and 7, respectively. Compound 3 gave the best results (E=94) with Candida antarctica A lipase (CHIRAZYM L-5), whereas 4 could not be separated into the enantiomers with satisfactory E values. The absolute configurations were proven for both compounds via independently prepared derivatives. Both enantiomers of 5, as well as racemic 7, were N-deblocked and condensed with octonic acid derivatives 14 to give the corresponding C-glycosides 17 and 22 after deprotection of the intermediates in good overall yield. Compound 4 was similarly condensed with glucose imidate 11 to give the diastereomeric O-glycosides 13 after deprotection. The latter glycosides were prepared as precursors for the generation of the corresponding aldehydes as substrates for aldolase catalyzed reactions.     

Lipase activity of Lecitase® Ultra: characterization and applications in enantioselective reactions

The general properties of Lecitase® Ultra, a phospholipase manufactured and marketed by Novozymes, Denmark, have been studied after purification by ultrafiltration. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 35 KD, pH-optimum of 8.5, and appears to possess a single active site which exhibits both the lipase and phospholipase activities that increase in the presence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions. The enzyme is inhibited by heavy metal ions and surfactants, and does not accept p-nitrophenyl acetate and glycerol triacetate. Substrates, such as glycerol tributyrate and p-nitrophenyl palmitate, esters of N-acetyl-α-amino acids and α-hydroxy acids are readily accepted. Amino acids with aliphatic residues, such as alanine, isoleucine, and methionine, are hydrolyzed with high enantioselectivity for the l-enantiomer (E >100), but amino acids with aromatic residues such as phenylalanine and phenylglycine, and esters of α-hydroxy acids are hydrolyzed with low enantioselectivity (E = 1–5). Immobilization of the enzyme in a gelatin matrix (gelozyme) leads to a marginal improvement in the enantioselectivity for these substrates. However, a dramatic improvement in enantioselectivity is observed for ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate (E value increases from 4.5 to 19.5 with S-selectivity). Similarly, glycidate esters, such as ethyl trans-(±)-3-phenyl glycidate and methyl trans-(±)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) glycidate, are selectively hydrolyzed with a remarkable selectivity towards the (2S,3R)-enantiomer providing unreacted (2R,3S)-glycidate esters (ee >99%, conversion 52–55%) by the immobilized enzyme.     

New Structural Motif for Carboxylic Acid Perhydrolases

Some serine hydrolases also catalyze a promiscuous reaction— reversible perhydrolysis of carboxylic acids to make peroxycarboxylic acids. Five X‐ray crystal structures of these carboxylic acid perhydrolases show a proline in the oxyanion loop. Here, we test whether this proline is essential for high perhydrolysis activity using Pseudomonas fluorescens esterase (PFE). The L29P variant of this esterase catalyzes perhydrolysis 43‐fold faster (k_cat comparison) than the wild type. Surprisingly, saturation mutagenesis at the 29 position of PFE identified six other amino acid substitutions that increase perhydrolysis of acetic acid at least fourfold over the wild type. The best variant, L29I PFE, catalyzed perhydrolysis 83‐times faster (k_cat comparison) than wild‐type PFE and twice as fast as L29P PFE. Despite the different amino acid in the oxyanion loop, L29I PFE shows a similar selectivity for hydrogen peroxide over water as L29P PFE (β₀=170 vs. 160 M ^?1), and a similar fast formation of acetyl‐enzyme (140 vs. 62 U mg^?1). X‐ray crystal structures of L29I PFE with and without bound acetate show an unusual mixture of two different oxyanion loop conformations. The type II β‐turn conformation resembles the wild‐type structure and is unlikely to increase perhydrolysis, but the type I β‐turn conformation creates a binding site for a second acetate. Modeling suggests that a previously proposed mechanism for L29P PFE can be extended to include L29I PFE, so that an acetate accepts a hydrogen bond to promote faster formation of the acetyl‐enzyme.     

Low background FRET-substrates for lipases and esterases suitable for high-throughput screening under basic (pH 11) conditions

FRET-based fluorogenic substrates for lipases and esterases were prepared in four steps from commercially available building blocks. The substrates are pyrenebutyric acid monoesters of aliphatic 1,2-diols bearing a dinitrophenylamino group as a quencher. The most enzyme-reactive substrate is ester 2a. The substrates do not show any measurable background reaction in the absence of enzyme even at pH 11, but react fast and specifically with lipases and esterases. These substrates offer an unprecedented and practical solution to the long-standing problem of a simple yet efficient high-throughput screening tool for lipase activities under basic conditions.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of boron-containing chiral amines and amides

The first application of lipases as catalysts to obtain optically active boron-containing amines and amides is described. We studied several reaction conditions to achieve the kinetic resolution of boron-containing amines via enantioselective acylation mediated by Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B). Excellent enantioselectivity (E >200) and high enantiomeric excess (up to >99%) of both the remaining amines and amides were obtained.     

Control of enantioselectivity of lipase-catalyzed esterification in supercritical carbon dioxide by tuning the pressure and temperature

The enantioselectivity of lipase-catalyzed esterification of 1-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanol in supercritical carbon dioxide was controlled by tuning the pressure and temperature. The enantioselectivity was higher at low pressure and low temperature (E=60) than at high pressure and high temperature (E=10). At the density of 0.75 g/mL, a modified Eyring plot of ln E against 1/T was found to be linear, as expected from the theory on the effects of temperature on stereochemistry.