ENANTIOSELECTIVE TRANSESTERIFICATIONS OF 2-METHYL-1-ALCOHOLS CATALYZED BY LIPASES FROM PSEUDOMONAS

Racemic beta-methyl-2-thiophenepropanol was resolved (E approximate to 200) via transesterification catalysed by lipase from Pseudomonas flu orescens using an excess of vinyl acetate in chloroform at an initial water activity: a(W) = 0.32. When trying to resolve rac-2-methyl-1-alk anols more modest E-values were obtained (E approximate to 10) and wer e of the same order of magnitude irrespective of substrate chainlength , water activity, immobilization, acyl donor or other Pseudomonas deri ved lipases. However, the reaction rates are affected by variations of these parameters. Both the rates and E-values were influenced by the nature of the solvent.