Chemoenzymatic synthesis of optically active heterocyclic homoallylic and homopropargylic alcohols

A chemoenzymatic methodology has been developed using indium-mediated allylation of heterocyclic aldehydes under aqueous conditions followed by Pseudomonas cepacia lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation of racemic homoallylic and homopropargylic alcohols in organic media. It is observed that the lipase immobilized on ceramic particles (PS-C Amano II) catalyzes the resolution in a highly enantioselective manner in less time as compared to the native enzyme (PS Amano). The approach provides new functionalized chiral synthons useful in the synthesis of natural and pseudonatural products.