D-Phenylglycine and D-4-hydroxyphenylglycine methyl esters via penicillin G acylase catalysed resolution in organic solvents

Penicillin G acylase in organic solvents catalyses specifically the acylati on of the L-enantiomers of methyl. esters of phenylglycine and 4-hydroxyphe nylglycine. Hydrolytic reactions are prevented by controlling the water act ivity of the system and no excess of acylating agent is required. The proce ss leads to the facile isolation of the enantiomerically pure D-enantiomer, which is of practical use for the preparation of p-lactam antibiotics. Ele ctrospray mass spectroscopy has been applied to the study of the enantiosel ectivity of the enzyme. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.