Biocatalytic desymmetrization of 3-substituted glutaronitriles by nitrilases. A convenient chemoenzymatic access to optically active (S)-Pregabalin and (R)-Baclofen

Desymmetrization of prochiral 3-substituted glutaronitriles offers a new approach to access (S)-Pregabalin and (R)-Baclofen. A number of nitrilases from diverse sources were screened with 3-isobutylglutaronitriles (1a) or 3-(4′-chlorophenyl)glutaronitriles (1b) as the substrate. Some nitrilases were found to catalyze the desymmetric hydrolysis of 1a and 1b to form optically active 3-(cyanomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid (2a) and 3-(4′-chlorophenyl)-4-cyanobutanoic acid (2b) with high enantiomeric excesse (ee), respectively. This cannot be achieved using traditional chemical hydrolysis. Among them, AtNIT3 generated (R)-2b, whereas BjNIT6402 and HsNIT produced the opposite (S)-enantiomer with high conversions and ee values. Not only the nitrilases showed different activities and stereoselectivities toward these 3-substituted glutaronitriles, the 3-substituent of the substrates also exerted great effect on the enzyme activity and stereoselectivity. (S)-2a and (S)-2b were prepared with high yields and ee values using BjNIT6402 and HsNIT as the biocatalysts, respectively. A straightforward Curtius rearrangement of (S)-2a and (S)-2b, followed by the acidic hydrolysis, afforded (S)-Pregabalin and (R)-Baclofen. This offers a new platform methodology for the synthesis of optically active β-substituted γ-amino acids of pharmaceutical importance.