Efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of chiral pincer ligands

J Org Chem. 2009 May 1;74(9):3547-50. doi: 10.1021/jo900271x.

Abstract

Chiral, nonracemic pincer ligands based on the 6-phenyl-2-aminomethylpyridine and 2-aminomethylbenzo[h]quinoline scaffolds were obtained by a chemoenzymatic approach starting from 2-pyridyl and 2-benzoquinolyl ethanone. In the enantiodifferentiating step, secondary alcohols of opposite absolute configuration were obtained by a baker's yeast reduction of the ketones and by lipase-mediated dynamic kinetic resolution of the racemic alcohols. Their transformation into homochiral 1-methyl-1-heteroarylethanamines occurred without loss of optical purity, giving access to pincer ligands used in enantioselective catalysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocatalysis
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Lipase / chemistry*
  • Lipase / metabolism
  • Pyridines / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyridines / chemistry
  • Quinolines / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinolines / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Pyridines
  • Quinolines
  • quinoline
  • Lipase
  • pyridine