Hydrolases, dynamic kinetic resolution alcohols

There are basically two approaches to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure alcohols (i) kinetic resolution of the racemic alcohol using a hydrolase (lipase, esterase or protease) or (ii) reduction mediated by a ketoreductase (KRED). Both of these processes can be performed as a cascade process. The first approach can be performed as a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) by conducting an enzymatic transesterification in the presence of a redox metal [e.g. a Ru(ll) complex] to catalyze in situ racemization of the unreacted alcohol isomer [11] (Scheme 6.1). We shall not discuss this type of process in any detail here since it forms the subject of Chapter 1. 

It is worth noting here that with two enzymes displaying opposite enantioselec-tivity it is possible to produce both enantiomers of the ester products. If the remaining alcohols can be continuously and rapidly racemized during the much slower acylation reaction, either the R- or S-esters can be obtained in high yields (>>5096) from reactions catalyzed by two hydrolases that display opposite enantio-preference. The combined process of racemization and simultaneous resolution, dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR), is described in Chapter 6. 

Hydrolase-catalyzed domino reactions incorporating a resolution and a subsequent cycloaddition reaction have been described [95-97]. This constitutes an attractive approach to complex synthetic intermediates. For example, the l-(3-methyl-2-furyl)]propanol roc-93 reacts with ethoxyvinyl methyl fumarate (94) catalyzed by Lipase LIP (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to furnish a dienophilic fumarate ester, which spontaneously undergoes an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction with the furan moiety furnishing exclusively the syn-adduct, the oxabicy-clohexene 95 in excellent along with the remaining alcohol S-96 (Scheme 4.31) [95]. A similar approach has been used for a procedure that includes a series of domino reactions that includes dynamic kinetic resolution of the 3-vinylcyclohex-... 

The dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols and amines (Scheme 11.11) is a prominent, industrially relevant, example of chemo-enzymatic chemistry in which a racemic mixture is converted into one enantiomer in essentially 100% yield and in high ee. This is in sharp contrast to enzyme-catalyzed kinetic resolutions that afford the desired end-product in a yield of at most 50%, while 50% of the starting material remains unreacted. In DKR processes, hydrolases are typically employed as the enantioselective acylation catalyst (which can be either R or S selective) while a concurrent racemization process racemizes the remaining substrate via an optically inactive intermediate. This ensures that all starting material is converted into the desired end-product. The importance of optically pure secondary alcohols and amines for the pharmaceutical industry triggered the development of a number of approaches that enable the racemization of sec-alcohols and amines via their corresponding ketones and imines, respectively [42],... 

Three routes to enantiopure compounds using hydrolase-catalyzed reactions, (a) Kinetic resolution starts with racemic substrate and converts one enantiomer into product. This separation yields one enantiomer as the product alcohol and one as the starting acetate, both with a maximum yield of 50%. (b) Desymmetrization of a prochiral compound transforms one of prochiral groups to yield a chiral product with a maximum yield of 100%. (c) A dynamic kinetic resolution combines rapid racemization of racemic starting material with a hydrolase catalyzed acylation of one enantiomer. The maximum yield is 100%. 

Structures of suitable acyl donors in hydrolase-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols. 

Akai, S. (2014). Dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic allylic alcohols via hydrolase-metal combo catalysis An effective method for the synthesis of optically active compounds. Chem. Lett., 43,746-754. 

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