BIOCATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF CHIRAL POLYOXYGENATED COMPOUNDS - MODULATION OF THE SELECTIVITY UPON CHANGES IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS

Derivatives of both enantiomers of butane-1,2,4-triol have been obtain ed through a transesterification reaction catalyzed by Pseudomonas flu orescens lipase (PFL) in organic solvents. The influence of the solven t on the enantioselectivity has been thoroughly examined. It has been found that the enantioselectivity depends on both the hydrophobicity a nd the polarity of the solvent in a semi-quantitative way. The influen ce of other experimental variables (temperature, amounts of lipase and acylating agent, addition of water, addition of molecular sieves) on the enantioselectivity has also been investigated.