Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Luliconazole Mediated by Lipases

A straightforward chemoenzymatic synthesis of luli- conazole has been developed. The key step involved the preparation of the enantiomerically pure beta-halohydrin (1S)-2-chloro- 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethanol through kinetic resolution of the corresponding racemic acetate. This was achieved by a hydrolytic approach, mediated by the lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus or Novozym 435\uae. The latter enzyme proved to be a robust biocatalyst for the kinetic resolution, and the halohydrin was obtained with high selectivity (ee > 99%, E > 200) after just 15 min, at 45 \ub0C. It could be reused five times with maintenance of high values of both conversion and enantioselectivity. Subsequently, the (S)-beta-halohydrin was sub- jected to a mesylation reaction; the mesylated derivative re- acted with 1-cyanomethylimidazole in the presence of CS2 to give luliconazole in 43 % yield with >99 % ee

Direct conversion of polyconjugated compounds into their corresponding carboxylic acids by Acetobacter aceti

The conversion of polyconjugated aldehydes or alcohols into their corresponding acids was carried out using Acetobacter aceti. The analytical results were compared with those of the acids chemically obtained using a Horner-Wittig reaction

Flow-based enzymatic synthesis of melatonin and other high value tryptamine derivatives: a five-minute intensified process

To increase the uptake of biocatalytic processes by industry, it is essential to demonstrate the reliability of enzyme-based methodologies directly applied to the production of high value products. Here, a unique, efficient, and sustainable enzymatic platform for the multi-gram synthesis of melatonin, projected to generate around 1.5 billion U.S. dollars worldwide by 2021, and its analogues was developed. The system exploits the covalent immobilization of MsAcT (transferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis) onto agarose beads increasing the robustness and longevity of the immobilized biocatalyst. The fully-automated process deriving from the integration between biocatalysis and flow chemistry is designed to maximize the overall yields (58-92%) and reduce reaction times (5 min), overcoming the limitation often associated with bioprocesses and bridging the gap between lab scale and industrial production

Preparation of Sterically Demanding 2,2-Disubstituted-2-Hydroxy Acids by Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Preparation of optically-pure derivatives of 2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylacetic acid of general structure 2 was accomplished by enzymatic hydrolysis of the correspondent esters. A screening with commercial hydrolases using the methyl ester of 2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylacetic acid (1a) showed that crude pig liver esterase (PLE) was the only preparation with catalytic activity. Low enantioselectivity was observed with substrates 1a\u2013d, whereas PLE-catalysed hydrolysis of 1e proceeded with good enantioselectivity (E = 28), after optimization. Enhancement of the enantioselectivity was obtained by chemical re-esterification of enantiomerically enriched 2e, followed by sequential enzymatic hydrolysis with PLE. The preparation of optically-pure (S)-2e was validated on multi-milligram scale

Chemoenzymatic synthesis in flow reactors: a rapid and convenient preparation of Captopril

The chemoenzymatic flow synthesis of enantiomerically pure captopril, a widely used antihypertensive drug, is accomplished starting from simple, inexpensive, and readily available reagents. The first step is a heterogeneous biocatalyzed regio- and stereoselective oxidation of cheap prochiral 2-methyl-1,3-propandiol, performed in flow using immobilized whole cells of Acetobacter aceti MIM 2000/28, thus avoiding the use of aggressive and environmentally harmful chemical oxidants. The isolation of the highly hydrophilic intermediate (R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid is achieved in-line by using a catch and-release strategy. Then, three sequential high-throughput chemical steps lead to the isolation of captopril in only 75 min. In-line quenching and liquid-liquid separation enable breaks in the workflow and other manipulations to be avoided

Production of geranyl acetate and other acetates by direct esterification catalyzed by mycelium of Rhizopus delemar in organic solvent

Dry mycelium of Rhizopus delemar MIM catalyzed the formation of geranyl acetate using 110 mM geraniol and acetic acid at 55\ub0C in heptane to give 11.9 g/l (55% molar conversion). Geranyl acetate was produced at 72.5-75 g/l after 10 days by semi-continuous addition of the substrates. Rhizopus delemar also catalyzed the direct acetylation of different primary alcohols with molar conversions ranging from 65 to 98%

A new chemoenzymatic synthesis of d-cloprostenol

A new chemoenzymatic synthesis Of D-cloprostenol based on the biocatalytical resolution of anti-2-oxotricyclo[2.2.1.0]heptan-7-carboxylic acid 1 has been developed. The resolution was attempted by different approaches: esterification or reduction of the acid and hydrolysis or reduction of the corresponding esters. The most efficient method proved to be the reduction of the propyl esters of 1 catalysed by the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus, which allowed for the recovery of the enantiomerically pure ester of anti-2-oxotricyclo[2.2.1.0]heptan-(R)-7-carboxylic acid (R)-3 at 60% molar conversion of 3.0 g/l of racemic substrate acid under optimised conditions. anti-2-Oxotricyclo[2.2. 1.0]heptan-(R)-7-carboxylic acid was obtained by alkaline hydrolysis and employed for the synthesis of D-cloprostenol. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Asymmetric reductions of ethyl 2-(benzamidomethyl)-3-oxobutanoate by yeasts

The stereoselective reduction of ethyl 2\u2013(benzamidomethyl)-3-oxobutanoate 1 using yeasts was investigated among a restricted number (12) of yeasts. Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis CL69 diastereoselectively produced (2R,3S)-ethyl 2\u2013(benzamidomethyl)-3- hydroxybutanoate 2, whereas Pichia glucozyma CBS 5766 gave (2S,3S)-2 as the major stereoisomer. The biotransformations were independently optimised for minimizing by-products formation and maximizing the diastereoselectivity. . Under optimised conditions, K. marxianus var lactis CL 69 gave the (2R,3S)-ethyl 2\u2013(benzamidomethyl)-3-hydroxybutanoate 2 with e.e. > 99% and d.e. = 98%, while P. glucozyma CBS 5766 allowed for the obtainment of (2S,3S)-2 with e.e. > 99% and d.e. = 86%

Enantioselective oxidation of prochiral 2-methyl-1,3-propandiol by Acetobacter pasteurianus

The microbial oxidation of prochiral 2-methyl-1,3-propandiol into (R)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl propionic acid with Acetobacter pasteurianus DSM 8937 is reported. The biotransformation was optimised furnishing (R)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl propionic acid with 97% enantiomeric excess and 100% molar conversion of 5 g/L within 2 h. A simple fed-batch procedure allowed for the obtainment of 25 g/L of the enantiomerically enriched acid. (R)-3-Hydroxy-2-methyl propionic acid is an important building block for the synthesis of Captopril, a widely used antihypertensive drug