Preparation of key intermediates of adrenergic receptor agonists: Highly enantioselective production of (R)-α-halohydrins with Saccharomyces cerevisiae CGMCC 2.396

In our effort to screen for strains producing carbonyl reductases with high activity and enantioselectivity, Saccharomyces cerevisiae CGMCC 2.396 was found to be able to catalyze the biotransformation of a series of α-haloacetophenones to Prelog's configurated alcohols in excellent optical purity (>99% ee). The optimal reaction condition was obtained after the investigation of various crucial factors. Under the optimal condition, the product was obtained with high yield (97%) and excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee). The usefulness of this strain has been further demonstrated by the synthesis of several (R)-α-halohydrins (>99% ee) of pharmaceutical importance.     

Improved enantioselective conversion of styrene epoxides and meso-epoxides through epoxide hydrolases with a mutated nucleophile-flanking residue

In epoxide hydrolase from Agrobacterium radiobacter (EchA), phenylalanine 108 flanks the nucleophilic aspartate and forms part of the substrate-binding pocket. The influence of mutations at this position on the activity and enantioselectivity of the enzyme was investigated. Screening for improved enantioselectivity towards para-nitrophenyl glycidyl ether (pNPGE) using spectrophotometric progress curve analysis yielded five different mutants with 3- to 7-fold improved enantioselectivity. The increase in enantioselectivity was in most cases the result of an enhanced catalytic efficiency toward the preferred enantiomer. Several mutations at position F108 resulted in a higher activity toward cis-disubstituted meso-epoxides, which were converted to a single product enantiomer. Mutant F108C converted cis-2,3-epoxybutane to (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol of >99% ee with a 7-fold improved activity, and mutant F108A hydrolyzed cyclohexene oxide to (1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediol of >99% ee with a more than 150-fold higher activity than wild-type enzyme. It is concluded that single amino acid substitutions in the active site of epoxide hydrolase can result in enzyme variants with catalytic properties that are suitable for preparative scale production of (S)-epoxides and chiral vicinal diols in high yield and with excellent ee.     

Resolution of 2-nitroalcohols by Burkholderia cepacia lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation

Racemic 2-nitro-1-phenylethanol was resolved by via enantioselective transesterification catalyzed by Burkholderia cepacia lipase. The reaction afforded excellent E values (E > 200) and enantioselectivity (up to >99% enantiomeric excesses [ee]) of both remaining substrates and acetylated product. Moreover, the lipase displayed high enantioselectivity in the resolution of additional 2-nitroalcohols (E up to >200). This method provides an efficient alternative for obtaining enantiopure 2-nitroalcohols.     

Enantioselective reduction of acetophenone and its derivatives with a new yeast isolate Candida tropicalis PBR-2 MTCC 5158

The enantioselective bioreduction of acetophenone and its various analogues has been carried out using a new yeast strain, Candida tropicalis MTCC 5158, to obtain the corresponding (S)-aryl ethanols with good yield and almost absolute enantioselectivity. The catalytic ability of this microbial strain for acetophenone reduction has been examined and also various parameters of the bioreduction reaction have been optimized. Studies on the catalytic performance showed that this microorganism is capable of carrying out the reduction in a broad range of pH (3-10) and temperature (25-40 degrees C), making it a more versatile biocatalyst. The preparative scale bioreduction of acetophenone using resting cells of Candida tropicalis yielded S-(-)-1-phenyl ethanol with 43% yield and >99% enantiomeric excess.     

Production of enantiomerically pure (S)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanol with Lactobacillus paracasei BD101

Abstract

Asymmetric reduction studies of heteroaryl ketones, including phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanone in enantioselective form with biocatalysts are very few, and chiral heteroaryl alcohols have been synthesized generally in the small scale. In this study, seven bacterial strains have been used to produce the (S)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanol in high enantiomeric excess and yield. Among the tested strains, Lactobacillus paracasei BD101, was found to be the best biocatalyst for the reducing phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanone to the (S)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanol at gram scale. The asymmetric bioreduction conditions were systematically optimized using L. paracasei BD101, which demonstrated excellent enantioselectivity and high level of conversion for the bioreduction reaction. (S)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanol, which is an analgesic, was produced enantiomerically pure form in the first time on gram scale using a biocatalyst. In total, 5.857?g of (S)-phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)methanol in enantiomerically pure form (>99% enantiomeric excess) was obtained in 52?h with 93% yield using whole cells of L. paracasei BD101. Enantiomerically pure (S)-phenyl (pyridin-2-yl)methanol, which is an analgesic, was first produced in the gram scale using a biocatalyst with excellent ee (>99%) and yield (93%).     

Highly efficient synthesis of chiral alcohols with a novel NADH-dependent reductase from Streptomyces coelicolor

An NADH-dependent reductase (ScCR) from Streptomyces coelicolor was discovered by genome mining for carbonyl reductases. ScCR was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21, purified to homogeneity and its catalytic properties were studied. This enzyme catalyzed the asymmetric reduction of a broad range of prochiral ketones including aryl ketones, α- and β-ketoesters, with high activity and excellent enantioselectivity (>99% ee) towards β-ketoesters. Among them, ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (COBE) was efficiently converted to ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate ((S)-CHBE), an important pharmaceutical intermediate, in water/toluene biphasic system. As much as 600 g/L (3.6 M) of COBE was asymmetrically reduced within 22 h using 2-propanol as a co-substrate for NADH regeneration, resulting in a yield of 93%, an enantioselectivity of >99% ee, and a total turnover number (TTN) of 12,100. These results indicate the potential of ScCR for the industrial production of valuable chiral alcohols.     

Enzyme Catalysed Synthesis in Ambient Temperature Ionic Liquids

The activity of three different lipases, a glycosidase and a protease in ionic liquids has been studied. Ambient temperature ionic liquids are a new class of solvents that are nonvolatile and nonflammable and thus an interesting alternative to classical organic solvents. Monitoring the synthesis of a simple ester, all lipases were found to exhibit both excellent activity and stability in the non-polar ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazohum hexaflurophosphate ([bmin][PF₆], 1). Furthermore, β-galactosidase from E. coli and the Subtilisin protease Savinase^TM were both found to exhibit a hydrolytic activity in a 50% aqueous solution of the water-miscible ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyhmidazoUum tetra-fluoroborate ([bmin][BF₄], 2) comparable to the activity observed in 50% aqueous solutions of ethanol and acetonitrile.     

Enhanced performance of lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols in monoether-functionalized ionic liquids

Several cationic monoether-functionalized ionic liquids (MEF-ILs) with different substituents were synthesized and used as media for kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols catalyzed by several lipases. The results indicate that Novozym 435 (an immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B) had higher efficiency compared to other lipases in deracemization. The alkyl substituents at the 2- and 3-positions in the imidazolium ring of MEF-ILs were found to contribute to the increased enantioselectivity and enhancement of the reaction rate, respectively, while the higher stereo-hindrance of ether bonds decreased the activity. An enantioselectivity higher than 99% with 50% conversion of rac-1-phenylethanol was achieved using the catalyst system comprised of Novozym 435 and the MEF-IL 1-(3-ethoxypropyl)-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. The catalytic system could be separated and reused without considerable activity loss. MEF-ILs can be a new class of enzyme-benign media suitable for lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-1-chloro-3(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol using lipases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ionic liquid-containing system

Direct transesterification of (R,S)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol (rac-CDPP) (a key intermediate in the synthesis of the chiral drug (S)-lubeluzole) with vinyl butyrate by lipases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) MTCC 5113 was performed in hexane with ionic liquids (ILs) 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIm][PF₆] and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIm][BF₄] as co-solvents. The maximum conversion (>49%) and enantiomeric excess (ee > 99.9%) was achieved in 6 h of incubation at 30 °C with [BMIm][PF₆] as co-solvent in a two-phase system. The enzyme was able to perform with the same specificity even at 60 °C in the presence of ILs. It was possible to use lipases repeatedly for more than 10 times while still maintaining absolute enantioselectivity and reactivity. Stability studies on lipases from P. aeruginosa in ILs revealed the fact that the enzyme constancy and the reactivity in catalyzing transesterification of rac-CDPP into (S)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-butanoate was of the order of [BMIm][PF₆] > [BMIm][BF₄] in two-phase system.     

Didymosphaeria igniaria: a new microorganism useful for the enantioselective reduction of aryl-aliphatic ketones

Didymosphaeria igniaria is a promising biocatalyst in asymmetric reductions of prochiral aromatic-aliphatic ketones such as acetonaphthones, acetophenones, and acetylpyridines. The organism converted the substrates mainly to (S)-alcohols. Excellent results in terms of conversion and enantioselectivity (100% yield, >99% ee) were obtained with acetonaphthones. In case of acetyl pyridines, the optical purity of the product depended on the position of the carbonyl group on the pyridine ring and followed the order 2-acetyl ? 4-acetyl > 3-acetyl-pyridine. Transformation of o-methoxy-acetophenone gave optically pure (S)-(-)-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-ethanol in 95% yield. The transformation of para-methyl ketone gave (R)-alcohol (81% ee), whereas para-bromo ketone gave (S)-alcohol (98% ee). Monitoring of the biotransformation of these substrates over time led to the conclusion that for both substrates, non-selective carbonyl group reduction occurred in the first step, followed by selective oxidation of the (R)-isomer of p-bromo-phenylethanol and selective oxidation of the (S)-isomer of p-methyl-phenylethanol. D. igniaria exhibited poor enantioselectivity in the reduction of bicyclic aryl-aliphatic ketones such as 1- and 2-tetralones. Only (S)-5-methoxy-1-tetralol was obtained in optically pure (>99% ee) form.     

Lipase resolution of new (±)-3-aryloxy-1-halogenopropan-2-ols: Versatile building blocks for β-adrenergic receptor antagonists

Using two commercial immobilized lipases Lipozyme^® TL and Novozym^® 435 effective kinetic resolution of several novel 3-aryloxy-1-halogenopropan-2-ols was achieved by acyl transfer reaction in organic solvents, yielding both enantiomers with 89–99% ee. In preparative resolutions carried out in tert-butyl methyl ether at 25 °C with vinyl acetate as acyl donor enantioselectivity ratio E was from 64 to 99. The resolved enantiomers were successfully used as chiral building blocks in the synthesis of new 1-alkylamino-3-aryloxypropan-2-ols, by nucleophilic halogen substitution with isopropylamine and tert-butylamine. The obtained products will be evaluated in vitro as potential new β-adrenergic receptors antagonists.     

Immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on glass beads for enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic Naproxen methyl ester

Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) was immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated aminopropyl glass beads by using covalent binding method or sol-gel encapsulation procedure and improved considerably by fluoride-catalyzed hydrolysis of mixtures of RSi(OCH₃)₃ and Si(OCH₃)₄. The catalytic properties of the immobilized lipases were evaluated into model reactions, i.e. the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylpalmitate (p-NPP). It has been observed that the percent activity yield of the encapsulated lipase was 166.9, which is 5.5 times higher than that of the covalently immobilized lipase. The enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic Naproxen methyl ester by immobilized lipase was studied in aqueous buffer solution/isooctane reaction system and it was noticed that particularly, the glass beads based encapsulated lipases had higher conversion and enantioselectivity compared to covalently immobilized lipase. In short, the study confirms an excellent enantioselectivity (E > 400) for the encapsulated lipase with an ee value of 98% for S-Naproxen.     

Enantioselective hydrolysis of rasemic naproxen methyl ester with sol–gel encapsulated lipase in the presence of sporopollenin

Sporopollenin is a natural polymer obtained from Lycopodium clavatum, which is highly stable with constant chemical structure and has high resistant capacity to chemical attack. In this study, the Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) was encapsulated within a chemically inert sol–gel support prepared by polycondensation with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) in the presence and absence of sporopollenin and activated sporopollenin as additive. The catalytic properties of the immobilized lipases were evaluated into model reactions, i.e. the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylpalmitate (p-NPP), and the enantioselective hydrolysis of rasemic Naproxen methyl ester that was studied in aqueous buffer solution/isooctane reaction system. The results indicated that the sporopollenin based encapsulated lipase particularly had higher conversion and enantioselectivity compared to the sol–gel free lipase. In this study, excellent enantioselectivity (E > 400) has been noticed for most lipase preparations (E = 166 for the free enzyme) with an ee value ～98% for S-Naproxen. Moreover, (S)-Naproxen was recovered from the reaction mixture with 98% optical purity.     

Lipase promiscuity and its biochemical applications

Lipases are the most widely used class of enzymes in organic synthesis. Availability of large number of commercial preparations, their broad specificity and relatively better stability (as compared to other enzymes) in media containing organic solvents have all been contributing factors for this. This review has a sharp focus on their specificity. The recent results with catalytic promiscuity have shown that lipases are even more versatile than thought so far. These results have also prompted workers to rationalize the classification of specificity in terms of substrate promiscuity, condition promiscuity and catalytic promiscuity. The review also attempts to recast the known information on specificity of lipases in the context of enzyme promiscuity. Lipases can exhibit regiospecificity, specificity in terms of fatty acids, nature of the alcohol, and stereospecificity (distinction between sn-1 and sn-3 position on the triglyceride). Lipases show varied stability toward presence of organic solvents, extreme pH conditions and ionic liquids. In low water media, condition promiscuity in terms of esterification, transesterification and interesterification has been extensively studied. The catalytic promiscuity is being increasingly observed for CC bond formation reactions. Finally, the beneficial consequences of this promiscuous behavior in biotechnology sectors are also discussed.     

Highly enantioselective kinetic resolution of trans-2-(phenylthio)cyclohexanol derivatives by immobilized Candida antartica B lipase

Candida antartica B (immobilized CAL-B) mediated resolutions of trans-2-(phenylthio)cyclohexanol derivatives using vinyl acetate as acylating agent and MTBE as solvent provide excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99%) and high yield of both the enantiomers in short reaction time.     

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Esters Containing a Tetrazole Ring

The lipase‐catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of acetates containing tetrazole moiety was studied. Among all tested lipases, Novozyme SP 435 allowed to obtain optically active 4‐(5‐aryl‐2H‐tetrazol‐2yl)butan‐2‐ol and 1‐(5‐aryl‐2H‐tetrazol‐2yl)‐propan‐2‐ol and their acetates with the highest optical purities (ee = 95%‐99%) and excellent enantioselectivity (E>100). Some of the synthesized tetrazole derivatives were screened for their antifungal activity. Racemic mixtures of 4‐[5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazol‐2‐yl)butan‐2‐ol as well as pure enantiomers of this compound showed promising antifungal activity against F. sambucinum, F. oxysporum, C. coccodes, and A. niger. Chirality 26: 811–816, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of racemic drugs by encapsulation in sol–gel magnetic sporopollenin

Candida rugosa lipase was encapsulated within a sol–gel procedure and improved considerably by fluoride-catalyzed hydrolysis of mixtures of octyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane in the presence of magnetic sporopollenin. The catalytic properties of the immobilized lipases were evaluated into model reactions, i.e., the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylpalmitate (p-NPP), and the enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic naproxen methyl ester, mandelic acid methyl ester or 2-phenoxypropionic acid methyl ester that were studied in aqueous buffer solution/isooctane reaction system. The encapsulated magnetic sporopollenin (Spo-M-E) was found to give 319 U/g of support with 342% activity yield. It has been observed that the percent activity yields and enantioselectivity of the magnetic sporopollenin encapsulated lipase were higher than that of the encapsulated lipase without support. The substrate specificity of the encapsulated lipase revealed more efficient hydrolysis of the racemic naproxen methyl ester and 2-phenoxypropionic acid methyl ester than racemic mandelic acid methyl ester. It was observed that excellent enantioselectivity (E > 400) was obtained for encapsulated lipase with magnetic sporopollenin with an ee value of S-Naproxen and R-2 phenoxypropionic acid about 98%.     

Identification and characterization of a highly S-enantioselective halohydrin dehalogenase from Tsukamurella sp. 1534 for kinetic resolution of halohydrins

Halohydrin dehalogenases are remarkable enzymes which possess promiscuous catalytic activity and serve as potential biocatalysts for the synthesis of chiral halohydrins, epoxides and β-substituted alcohols. The enzyme HheC exhibits a highly R enantioselectivity in the processes of dehalogenation of vicinal halohydrins and ring-opening of epoxides, which attracts more attentions in organic synthesis. Recently dozens of novel potential halohydrin dehalogenases have been identified by gene mining, however, most of the characterized enzymes showed low stereoselectivity. In this study, a novel halohydrin dehalogenase of HheA10 from Tsukamurella sp. 1534 has been heterologously expressed, purified and characterized. Substrate spectrum and kinetic resolution studies indicated the HheA10 was a highly S enantioselective enzyme toward several halohydrins, which produced the corresponding epoxides with the ee (enantiomeric excess) and E values up to >99% and >200 respectively. Our results revealed the HheA10 was a promising biocatalyst for the synthesis of enantiopure aromatic halohydrins and epoxides via enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic halohydrins. What’s more important, the HheA10 as the first individual halohydrin dehalogenase with the highly S enantioselectivity provides a complementary enantioselectivity to the HheC.     

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.