Metal ions dramatically enhance the enantioselectivity for lipase-catalysed reactions in organic solvents

Org Biomol Chem. 2006 Mar 21;4(6):1147-53. doi: 10.1039/b514885e. Epub 2006 Jan 26.

Abstract

We propose a simple and a powerful method to enhance the enantioselectivity for lipase-catalysed transformations in organic solvents by an addition of metal ion-containing water to the reaction mixture. In this paper, various metal ions such as LiCl or MgCl2 are tested to improve the enantioselectivity for the model reactions. The enantioselectivities obtained are dramatically enhanced, the E values of which are about 100-fold as compared with the ordinary conditions without a metal ion, for example, E = 200 by addition of LiCl. Furthermore, lowering the reaction temperature led to an almost perfect enantioselectivity of lipase in the presence of a metal ion, for example, E = 1,300 by addition of LiCl. Also, a mechanism for the drastic enhancement by metal ions is discussed briefly on the basis of the EPR spectroscopic study and the initial rate for each enantiomer of the substrate.

MeSH terms

  • Candida / enzymology
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Lipase / metabolism*
  • Lithium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Metals / pharmacology*
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Solvents
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Metals
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Solvents
  • Lipase
  • Lithium Chloride