Kinetic Resolution of Unnatural and Rarely Occuring Amino Acids: Enantioselective Hydrolysis of N-Acyl Amino Acids Catalyzed by Acylase I

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00198a055

Acylase I (aminoacylase; N-acylamino-acid amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.14, from porcine kidney and the fungus Aspergillus) is broadly applicable enzymatic catalyst for the kinetic resolution of unnatural and rarely occuring α-amino acids.Its enantioselectivity for the hydrolysis of N-acyl L-α-amino acids is nearly absolute, yet it accepts substrates having a wide range of structure and functionality.This paper reports the initial rates of enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of over 50 N-acyl amino acids and analogues, the stabilities of the enzymes in aqueous and aqueous/organic solutions, and the effects of different acyl groups and metal ions on the rates of enzymatic hydrolysis.Eleven α-amino and α-methyl α-amino acids were resolved on a 2-29-g scale.Crude L- and D-amino acid products had generally >90percent ee.The utility of resolved amino acids as chiral synthons was illustrated by the preparation of (R)- and (S)-1-butene oxide and the diastereoselective (cis:trans, 7-8:1) iodolactonization of three 2-amino-4-alkenoic acid derivatives.