SCALE-UP OF THE ENANTIOSELECTIVE REACTION FOR THE ENZYMATIC RESOLUTION OF (R,S)-IBUPROFEN

The reaction for the resolution of (R,S)-ibuprofen was scaled-up to yi eld gram quantities of (S)-ibuprofen. This was accomplished through tw o enantioselective reactions each catalysed by Novozym 435. In the fir st reaction, starting from 300 g of racemic ibuprofen, 88.9 g of enant ioenriched (S)-ibuprofen with an enantiomeric excess of the order of 8 5% were produced. In the subsequent reaction, 75 g of the 85% e.e. mat erial were utilized to produce 38.4 g of (S)-ibuprofen with an enantio meric excess of 97.5%.