IMPROVEMENT OF ENANTIOSELECTIVE ENZYMATIC ESTER HYDROLYSIS IN ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

A method is presented to improve the enzymatic enantioselective hydrol ysis of chiral esters in water-saturated organic solvents. It is shown that addition of a non-reactive amine to the reaction mixture leads t o the formation of an ion-pair with the produced carboxylic acid. Yiel d and enantiomeric excess are increased in lipase catalyzed kinetic re solutions of methyl 2-chloropropionate and glycidyl butyrate in variou s solvents. Chemical background hydrolysis was reduced with respect to aqueous solvents. A second phase was formed during reaction in apolar solvents, due to ion-pair formation, which may facilitate the isolati on of the desired compound.