Conversion of a pentane-1,3,5-triol derivative using lipases as chiral catalysts and possible function of the lid for the regulation of substrate selectivity and enantioselectivity

Abstract

The enantioselective desymmetrization of a prochiral 3-O-silyl protected pentane-1,3,5-triol derivative was achieved by lipase-catalysed hydrolysis. The lipase from B. cepacia led to 95.4% enantiomeric excess (ee)of the (R)-configured compound (R)-4 at a theoretical yield of 79% and was isolated with 98.2% ee and 27% yield. Furthermore, it was found that the ee switched from an excess of (R)-4 to an excess of (S)-4 during the course of the reaction using crude lipase from C. rugosa under the same conditions. This finding was investigated in detail and compared to the change of substrate selectivity known for the lipase from M. miehei. It is supposed that both phenomena may result from a movement of the lid.