Use of ionic liquids as media for the biocatalytic preparation of flavonoid derivatives with antioxidant potency

Biocatalytic preparation of acylated derivatives of flavonoid glycosides was performed using various immobilized lipases in two different ionic liquids, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim]BF(4)) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF(6)). The influence of various reaction parameters on the performance and the regioselectivity of the biocatalytic process was pointed out, using as model reaction the acylation of naringin and rutin with vinyl butyrate, catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase at 60 degrees C. The biocatalytic modification of flavonoids strongly depended on the ionic liquid used, the molar ratio of substrates, as well as the acyl donor chain length. The highest conversion yield (about 65% after 96 h of incubation) was obtained with short chain acyl donors (up to four carbon atoms), at a relatively high molar ratio (10-15) in both ionic liquids used. The amount of monoacylated flavonoid derivatives produced in a single-step biocatalytic process in [bmim]BF(4) was up to 5.5 g/L for monoacylated rutin and 30 g/L for monoacylated naringin. The regioselectivity of the process was higher in [bmim]BF(4) than in [bmim]PF(6) or organic solvents. Reaction rates observed in ionic liquids were up to four times higher than those reported for organic media. The acylation of sugar moiety of rutin with various acyl donors affected its antioxidant potential towards both isolated LDL and total serum model in vitro. A significant increase of antioxidant activity was observed for rutin-4'-O-oleate.     

Donor specificity and regioselectivity in Lipolase mediated acylations of methyl α-d-glucopyranoside by vinyl esters of phenolic acids and their analogues

Methyl α-d-glucopyranoside as a model acceptor was acylated by several phenolic and non-phenolic vinyl esters using immobilised Lipolase. Donor specificity and regioselectivity of reaction were investigated. Conversion and rate of acylation by structurally varied donors indicates that the synthetic reactivity of Lipolase corresponds to the hydrolytic activity of feruloyl esterase type A. Lipolase exhibited remarkable regioselectivity for primary position of methyl α-d-glucopyranoside. The acylation occurred exclusively at 6-O primary position when vinyl esters of phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoates, hydroxyphenylalkanoates and hydroxycinnamates) served as acyl donors (5–77%). In addition to the major 6-O-acyl products (52–79%), 2,6-di-O-acylated derivatives were isolated from reaction mixtures (2–13%) when non-phenolic donors were used (vinyl esters of fully methoxylated derivatives of phenolic acids, along with vinyl benzoates, cinnamates or some heterocyclic analogues).     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of (±)‐1‐(2‐Furyl) Ethanol in Nonaqueous Media

S‐1‐(2‐Furyl) ethanol serves as an important chiral building block for the preparation of various natural products, fine chemicals, and is widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In this work, lipase‐catalyzed kinetic resolution of (R/S)‐1‐(2‐furyl) ethanol using different acyl donors was investigated. Vinyl esters are good acyl donors vis‐à‐vis alkyl esters for kinetic resolution. Among them, vinyl acetate was found to be the best acyl donor. Different immobilized lipases such as Rhizomucor miehei lipase, Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase, and Candida antarctica lipase B were evaluated for this reaction, among which C. antarctica lipase B, immobilized on acrylic resin (Novozym 435), was found to be the best catalyst in n‐heptane as solvent. The effect of various parameters was studied in a systematic manner. Maximum conversion of 47% and enantiomeric excess of the substrate (ee_s) of 89% were obtained in 2 h using 5 mg of enzyme loading with an equimolar ratio of alcohol to vinyl acetate at 60°C at a speed of 300 rpm in a batch reactor. From the analysis of progress curve and initial rate data, it was concluded that the reaction followed the ordered bi–bi mechanism with dead‐end ester inhibition. Kinetic parameters were obtained by using nonlinear regression. This process is more economical, green, and easily scalable than the chemical processes. Chirality 26:286–292, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Novel and Highly Efficient Regioselective Route to Helicid Esters by Lipozyme TLL

Highly regioselective acylation of helicid with fatty acid vinyl esters catalyzed by the lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus has been successfully performed for the first time. For the enzymatic caproylation of helicid, under the optimal conditions, initial reaction rate was 33.2 mM/h, and substrate conversion and regioselectivity were greater than 99%. In addition, the acyl recognition of the enzyme in the regioselective acylation of helicid was investigated. The results showed that although 6’-O-acyl derivatives of helicid were exclusively obtained with all the tested acyl donors, the enzymatic reaction rate varied widely with different acyl donors, presumably owing to their different interactions with the active site of the lipase. It is also interesting that the different configuration of only one hydroxyl group at C-3 in helicid couldn’t affect the lipase-catalyzed esterification and helicid has the same regioselectivity as that of D-glucose and arbutin.     

Trichoderma reesei acetyl esterase catalyzes transesterification in water

Partially purified Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 acetyl esterase preparation was found to catalyze acyl transfer reactions in organic solvents, mixtures of organic solvents with water and even in water. Using different acyl donors, the best results for acetyl transfer in water were obtained using vinyl acetate. As acetyl acceptors, a variety of hydroxyl bearing compounds in aqueous solutions were used. Degree of conversion and the number of newly formed acetates varied according to the acceptor used. Conversions over 50% were observed for the majority of several common monosaccharides, their methyl and deoxy derivatives and oligosaccharides. In several cases, the transesterification reaction exhibited strict regioselectivity, leading to only one acetyl derivative. Preparative potential of the transesterification in water was demonstrated by acetylation of methyl β- -glucopyranoside, 4-nitrophenyl β- -glucopyranoside and kojic acid, yielding 56.4% of methyl 3-O-acetyl β- -glucopyranoside, 70.2% of 4-nitrophenyl 3-O-acetyl β- -glucopyranoside and 30.9% of 7-O-acetyl-kojic acid as the only reaction products.

This enzymatically catalyzed transacetylation in water, which is applied to transformation of saccharides for the first time, opens a new area in chemoenzymatic synthesis. Its major advantages are simplicity, highly regioselective esterification of polar compounds, high yields, low enzyme consumption and elimination of the need to use toxic organic solvents.     

Resolution of 1,3-dioxolane derivatives using the lipase from an Acinetobacter junii SY-01

Acinetobacter junii SY-01 producing a lipase enantioselectively hydrolyzing 1,3-dioxolane derivatives was isolated from water sludge sample and the effect of solvent, acyl donor, vinyl acetate concentration, substrate concentration, operating temperature and immobilization on activity and enantioselectivity was studied for the resolution of 1,3-dioxolane derivatives through transesterification reaction using a lipase from the isolated strain. Best selectivity was obtained at lower substrate concentration (3–5 mM), higher vinyl acetate concentration (500–1000 mM) and lower temperature (30–40 °C) in the reaction mixture. Lipase immobilized onto Accurel MP-1000 (micro-porous polypropylene) gave the best results and the reactivity was about 29-fold higher than the free enzyme without the decrease of enantioselectivity. Resolution of 1,3-dioxolane derivatives was carried out in flask scale containing 100 ml solvents using the lipase immobilized onto Accurel MP-1000. In this reaction, the yield and enantiomeric excess of the remaining (2R, 4S)-alcohol were 31.2% and 98.2%, respectively. This result suggests that it can be used as an alternative method, compared to the present synthetic method, for the production of optically pure (2R, 4S)-itraconazole.     

Enzymatic alcoholysis of 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxynucleosides

Candida antarctica-B (CAL-B) lipase-catalysed alcoholysis of a set of 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxynucleosides (1a–e) gave the corresponding 3′-O-acetyl-2′-deoxy-nucleosides (2a–e) in yields ranging from 50 to 96%. The alcohol employed in the biotransformation affected the rate of the enzymatic reaction and the yield of the 3′-O-acetylated product, but in all cases only this regioisomer was formed. The obtained results are in agreement with the regioselectivity displayed by CAL-B lipase in previously reported biotransformations of nucleosides. CAL-B catalysed alcoholysis of 2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetyl-cytidine and 4-N-acetyl-2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetylcytidine was also studied, affording with the same regioselectivity the corresponding free 5′-hydroxyl nucleosides.     

Lipase‐catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of prochiral 1‐((1,3‐dihydroxypropan‐2‐yloxy)methyl)‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroquinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione in ionic liquids

The application of ionic liquids as solvents for transesterification of prochiral pirymidine acyclonucleoside using lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) Amano PS from Burkholderia cepacia (BCL) is reported. The effect of using medium reaction, acyl group donor, and temperature on the activity and enantioselectivity of BCL was studied. From the investigated ionic solvents, the hydrophobic ionic liquid [BMIM]PF₆] was the preferred medium for enzymatic reactions. However, the best result was obtained in the mixture [BMIM][PF₆]:TBME (1:1 v/v) at 50°C. Enzyme activity and selectivity in [BMIM][PF₆]:TBME (1:1 v/v) was slightly higher in than in conventional organic solvents (for example, TBME), and in this condition, good activity and enantioselectivity were associated with unique properties of ionic liquid such as hydrophobicity and high polarity. Independently of solvents, monester of (R)‐configuration was obtained in excess. Under optimal conditions, desymmetrization of the prochiral compound using different acyl donors was performed. If vinyl butyrate was used as the acylating agent, BCL completely selectively acylated enantiotopic hydroxyl groups.     

Novel and highly regioselective route for synthesis of 5-fluorouridine lipophilic ester derivatives by lipozyme TL IM

For the first time, lipozyme TL IM, an inexpensive lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosa, was successfully applied to the regioselective synthesis of lipophilic 5-fluorouridine ester derivatives. The ESI-MS and (13)C NMR analysis confirmed that the end products of the acylation were 5'-O-acyl 5-fluorouridines, more powerful anti-tumor drugs than 5-fluorouridine itself. Notably, the chain length of acyl donors had an obvious effect on the initial rate and the maximum substrate conversion of the regioselective acylation. The acylation of 5-fluorouridine with vinyl laurate was used as a model to explore the influence of various factors on the reaction with respect to the initial rate, the maximum substrate conversion and the regioselectivity. The optimum water activity, the molar ratio of vinyl laurate to 5-fluorouridine, reaction temperature and shaking rate were 0.07, 15/1, 45 degrees C and 200rpm, respectively, under which the maximum substrate conversion and the regioselectivity were as high as 98.4 and >99%, respectively, after a reaction time of around 6h.     

Enzymatic synthesis of terpenyl esters by transesterification with fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors by Trichosporon fermentans lipase

Enzymatic synthesis of terpenyl esters by esterification or transesterification with fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors by celite-adsorbed lipase of Trichosporon fermentans was investigated. In direct esterification of geraniol, the lipase showed high reactivity toward fatty acids with carbon chains longer than C-8, but little reactivity toward fatty acids with shorter chains. With fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors, the lipase catalysed the synthesis of geranyl and citronellyl esters with carbon chains shorter than C-6 in with yields of >90% molar conversion. Time course, effects of added water, temperature and substrate concentration were studied for the synthesis of geranyl acetate. Molar conversion yield reached 97.5% after 5 h incubation at 30–40°C with the addition of 3% water. In this reaction, no inhibition by substrates such as geraniol and vinyl acetate was observed.     

Enzymatic synthesis of terpenyl esters by transesterification with fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors by Trichosporon fermentans lipase

Enzymatic synthesis of terpenyl esters by esterification or transesterification with fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors by celite-adsorbed lipase of Trichosporon fermentans was investigated. In direct esterification of geraniol, the lipase showed high reactivity toward fatty acids with carbon chains longer than C-8, but little reactivity toward fatty acids with shorter chains. With fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors, the lipase catalysed the synthesis of geranyl and citronellyl esters with carbon chains shorter than C-6 in with yields of >90% molar conversion. Time course, effects of added water, temperature and substrate concentration were studied for the synthesis of geranyl acetate. Molar conversion yield reached 97.5% after 5 h incubation at 30–40°C with the addition of 3% water. In this reaction, no inhibition by substrates such as geraniol and vinyl acetate was observed.     

Kinetically controlled synthesis of ampicillin with immobilized penicillin acylase in the presence of organic cosolvents

Penicillin acylase (PA) is used in the industrial production of 6-amino penicillanic acid (6-APA). However, by proper control of reaction medium, the enzyme can be used in the reverse synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics from the corresponding β-lactam nuclei and suitable acyl donors. Under thermodynamically controlled strategy, the use of organic cosolvents can favor synthesis over hydrolysis by lowering water activity and favoring the non-ionic reactive species. Under kinetically controlled strategy using activated acyl donors, organic solvents can favor synthesis by depressing hydrolytic reactions. Results are presented on the synthesis of ampicillin from phenylglycine methyl ester and 6-APA with immobilized Escherichia coli PA in the presence of organic cosolvents. Several solvents were tested in terms of enzyme stability and solubility of substrates. Ethylene glycol, glycerol, 1–2 propanediol and 1–3 butanediol were selected accordingly and ampicillin synthesis was performed in all of them. Best results in terms of yield and productivity were obtained with ethylene glycol, with which further studies were conducted. Variables studied were enzyme to limiting substrate ratio, acyl acceptor to acyl donor ratio, organic solvent concentration, pH and temperature. Experimental design based on a two-level fractional factorial design was conducted. pH was determined as the most sensitive variable and was further optimized. The best conditions for ampicillin synthesis in terms of productivity, within the range of values studied for those variables, were pH 7.4, 28°C, 36 U_S PA/mmol 6-APA, 3 mol PGME/mol 6-APA and 45 % (v/v) ethylene glycol concentration. Productivity was 7.66 mM ampicillin/h, which corresponds to a specific productivity of 7.02 μmol ampicillin/h U_S at 55 % yield. Productivity was lower than in buffer but product yield was higher because of the much lower relative hydrolysis rates.     

Enzymatic resolution of albicanol and its application to the synthesis of (−)-copalic acid

The optical resolution of racemic albicanol (rac-1) based on the lipase-catalyzed transesterification by using vinyl myristate as an acyl donor afforded (8aR)-1 (99% ee) in 43% yield and (8aS)-1 (99% ee) in 37%. E value of the enzymatic reaction was 56.7 which was superior to that of the reported value (E = 25) by using isopropenyl acetate as an acyl donor. As the synthetic application of obtained (8aR)-1, (−)-copalic acid ((8aR)-3) and (−)-copalol ((8aR)-4) were synthesized from (8aR)-1 in 35% and 34% total yield, respectively.     

Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyol- and Masked Polyol- Glycosides using β-Glycosidase of Sulfolobus Solfataricus

The use of commercially available mesophilic glycosidases in the enzymatic synthesis of glycosides of different types is a well established method suffering from some drawbacks such as a poor yield. Substrates with three or four hydroxyl groups have been subjected to enzymatic glucosylation using crude homogenate of the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus containing a β-glycosidase activity able to transfer glucose, galactose and fucose from different donors. The stereochemistry of this reaction was interpreted in terms of interaction with a possible “glucose” active site of the enzyme. In addition masked or protected derivatives of tetritols and some simple unsaturated alcohols were glycosylated yielding glycosides in yields very competitive with those obtained using mesophilic enzymes, examples of further chemical manipulation of these compounds were reported. When using a scarce amount of acceptor, a reasonable amount of products could be obtained by adding different aliquots of donor at time intervals.     

Biocatalytic synthesis of ascorbyl esters and their biotechnological applications

Ascorbyl fatty acid esters act both as antioxidants and surfactants. These esters are obtained by acylation of vitamin C using different acyl donors in presence of chemical catalysts or lipases. Lipases have been used for this reaction as they show high regioselectivity and can be used under mild reaction conditions. Insolubility of hydrophilic ascorbic acid in non-polar solvents is the major obstacle during ascorbic acid esters synthesis. Different strategies have been invoked to address this problem viz. use of polar organic solvents, ionic liquids, and solid-phase condensation. Furthermore, to improve the yield of ascorbyl fatty acid esters, reactions were performed by (1) controlling water content in the reaction medium, (2) using vacuum to remove formed volatile side product, and (3) employing activated acyl donors (methyl, ethyl or vinyl esters of fatty acids). This mini-review offers a brief overview on lipase-catalyzed syntheses of vitamin C esters and their biotechnological applications. Also, wherever possible, technical viability, scope, and limitations of different methods are discussed.     

sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase activity in particulate preparations from anaerobic, light-grown cells of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. Involvement of acyl thiolester derivatives of acyl carrier protein in the synthesis of complex lipids.

Crude particulate preparations obtained from anaerobic, light-grown cells of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides have been shown to possess a significant level of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.15) activity. In contrast to the enzyme from Escherichia coli, the R. spheroides glycerophosphate acyltransferase has a high specificity for acyl thiolester derivatives of acyl carrier protein (ACP) as acyl donors for the reaction. Only limited , nonlinear glycerophosphate incorporation into lipid occurs when acyl coenzyme A (CoA) derivatives are employed as acyl substrate. With oleyl-ACP as substrate, maximal enzyme activity was observed at 40 degrees, over a broad pH range (6.0 to 8.5) and did not require a divalent metal cation. The presence of dithiothreitol stimulated enzyme-activity 15 to 20%. When oleyl-ACP or palmityl-ACP was employed as sole acyl group donor, the major products recoverable from the reaction mixtures were lysophosphatidic acid, phosphatidic acid, and monoglyceride. Althouh oleyl-ACP and palmityl-ACP gave comparable maximal velocities in the initial acylation of glycerophosphate, the formation of phosphatidic acid occurred preferentially with the unsaturated acyl-ACP derivative.     

Resolution of 2-phenoxy-1-propanols through the enantioselective acylation mediated by Achromobacter sp. lipase as biocatalyst

Enantioselective acylation employing vinyl alkanoates as acyl donors was exploited for the resolution of 2-(substituted phenoxy)-1-propanols carrying different substituents on the benzene ring using Achromobacter sp. lipase. These primary alcohols with an oxygen atom at the stereocenter, were resolved with moderate to good enantioselectivity, based on the enantiomeric ratio E (up to 27), through acylation with vinyl butanoate in diisopropyl ether, after the examination of potential factors affecting the reaction such as organic solvents and acyl donors. Using this procedure, enantiomerically enriched (R)-2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-1-propanol was prepared in 97% e.e. and 33% yield in a gram-scale reaction.     

Parameters affecting productivity in the lipase-catalysed synthesis of sucrose palmitate

The industrial application of lipases for the synthesis of sucrose esters is usually limited by its low productivity, as we need a medium where a polar reagent (the sugar) and a non-polar fatty acid donor are soluble and able to react in the presence of the biocatalyst. In this work, we have studied the problems encountered when trying to increase the volumetric productivity of sucrose esters. The synthesis of sucrose palmitate was performed in 2-methyl-2-butanol:dimethylsulfoxide mixtures by transesterification of different palmitic acid donors with sucrose, catalysed by the immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica B (Novozym 435). A protocol for substrate preparation different from that previously reported was found to improve the reaction rate. Several parameters, such as sucrose and acyl donor loadings, the percentage of DMSO in the mixture and the nature of acyl donor, were investigated. Under the best experimental conditions (15% DMSO, 0.1 mol l^?1 sucrose, 0.3 mol l^?1 vinyl palmitate), a maximum of 45 g l^?1 sucrose palmitate was obtained in 120 h. Using methyl or ethyl palmitate, the highest productivity was 7.3 g l^?1 in 120 h using 20% DMSO with 0.2 mol l^?1 sucrose and 0.6 mol l^?1 acyl donor. The formation of free fatty acid, and the effect of the percentage of DMSO on the monoester/diester selectivity were also studied. To our knowledge, this is the first report on enzymatic synthesis of sucrose esters of long fatty acids using alkyl esters as acyl donors.     

Penicillin amidase-catalysed transfer of low specific acyl moiety. Synthesis of 7-benzoxazolonylacetamido desacetoxycephalosporanic acid.

The methyl ester of 2-benzoxazolon-3-yl-acetic acid was used as an acyl donor in the penicillin amidase-catalysed transfer reaction to 7-aminodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid. The synthesis of 7-(2-benzoxazolon-3-yl-acetamido)-desacetoxycephalosporanic acid was carried out as a kinetically controlled reaction. A characteristic feature of this system is that the benzoxazolone derivatives are very low specific substrates for penicillin amidase (the kcat/Km values for their hydrolysis were shown to be 10(5)-fold lower compared to the corresponding values for phenylacetyl derivatives). Nevertheless, penicillin amidase proved to be an effective catalyst for the synthesis of these new cephem derivatives (50% yield for 6 h). The reason is the observed unusually high value for the transferase-hydrolase activity ratio. The determined value for (k3'/k3)app = 120,000 implies that in this case of low specific acyl moiety, penicillin amidase acts more like a transferase than a hydrolase. The maximum yield has been increased up to 70% by lowering the reaction temperature and stepwise feeding of the reaction medium with the acyl component. The results obtained extend the potential of the penicillin amidase as a catalyst for the synthesis of a new group of biologically active cephem derivatives.     

Effect of ultrasound on enzymatic acylation of konjac glucomannan

A comparative study was made of enzymatic acylation of konjac glucomannan with vinyl esters under ultrasonic irradiation and shaking in organic solvent tert-butanol. Among the 13 enzymes selected, Novozym 435 exhibited the highest acylation activity towards KGM whether under ultrasonic irradiation or shaking. The application of ultrasonic irradiation instead of shaking during the acylation led to improvement in the initial reaction rate, yield and degree of substitution of the modified KGM. Appropriate ultrasound power (100 W) and water activity (0.75) were found to accelerate enzymatic reaction. The acceleration effect of ultrasound on Novozym 435-catalyzed acylation decreased with an increase in the chain length of the acyl donors from C2 to C18. Moreover, the acylation of KGM in tert-butanol was proved to be a regioselective one, with C6-OH being acylated. Compared with shaking, ultrasound did not change regioselectivity of Novozym 435 in the acylation.