Direct enzymatic route for the preparation of novel enantiomerically enriched hydroxylated β-amino ester stereoisomers

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules15063998

Enantiomerically enriched hydroxy-substituted β-amino esters have been synthesized through CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis in organic media. Moderate to good enantiomeric excess values (ee ≥ 52%) were obtained when the CAL-Bcatalyzed reactions

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules15063998

Molecules 2010, 15, 3998-4010; doi:10.3390/molecules15063998
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Direct Enzymatic Route for the Preparation of Novel
Enantiomerically Enriched Hydroxylated β-Amino Ester
Stereoisomers
Enikő Forró 1, László Schönstein 1, Loránd Kiss 1, Alberto Vega-Peñaloza 2, Eusebio Juaristi 2
and Ferenc Fülöp 1,3,
*
1
Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, Hungary
Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto
Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508 Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360
México, D.F. Apartado Postal 14-740, 07000, D.F., Mexico
2
3
Research Group of Stereochemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Szeged,
H-6720 Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, Hungary
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: fulop@pharm.u-szeged.hu;
Tel.: (+36)62-545564; Fax: (+36)62-545705.
Received: 6 May 2010; in revised form: 25 May 2010 / Accepted: 28 May 2010 /
Published: 1 June 2010
Abstract: Enantiomerically enriched hydroxy-substituted β-amino esters have been
synthesized through CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis in organic media.
Moderate to good enantiomeric excess values (ee ≥ 52%) were obtained when the CAL-B-
catalyzed reactions were performed in t-BuOMe, at 60 ºC with 0.5 equiv. of added H2O as
nucleophile.
Keywords: β-amino ester; stereoisomer; enzyme; hydrolysis; hydroxylation; organic
solvent; enantioselective
1. Introduction
A number of cyclic β-amino acids exhibit biological activity (e.g. cispentacin [1,2] and Icofungipen
[3,4]), and in addition they have also been used in peptide (modified activities and stabilities [5] and
well-defined three-dimensional structures [6–9]), in heterocyclic [10–13] and combinatorial [14–16]

Molecules 2010, 15
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chemistry, and in drug research [9,17,18]. Hydroxylated β-amino acids represent a valuable class of
amino acids, due to their importance from both biological and chemical aspects. In recent years,
acyclic hydroxylated β-amino acids have attracted much attention especially following their
recognition as an important class of compounds in the design and synthesis of potential pharmaceutical
drugs [e.g., Taxol® (paclitaxel) and its analogue Taxotère® (docetaxel)] [17,19–21]. Among the
carbocyclic β-amino acids a number of hydroxylated β-amino acid derivatives present antibiotic
(e.g., oryzoxymycin [22]) or antifungal activity, and are building blocks for pharmaceutically
important natural substances such as fortamine, chryscandin, pentopyranamine, gougerotin and
blasticidin [20,23].
Enzymatic methods for the preparation of several enantiomerically pure hydroxy-substituted
carbocyclic β-amino acids or their derivatives have been published, but in those syntheses the
enantioselective enzymatic step was performed for the preparation of starting β-amino acids [24–27].
In contrast, in this work the aim was to introduce the chirality on the last step on the synthetic
sequence leading to hydroxy-substituted β-amino esters. Our earlier extensive investigations on
enzyme-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of both carbocyclic [28] and acyclic [29–31] β-amino
esters suggested the possibility of direct lipase-catalyzed resolution of hydroxy-substituted β-amino
esters (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4, (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10,
through enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Synthesis of hydroxy-substituted racemic β-amino esters (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-
5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10
The selective synthesis of the hydroxylated amino ester stereoisomers with a cyclohexene
framework has been accomplished starting from N-Boc protected cis- or trans-2-aminocyclohex-3-
enecarboxylic acid [32] and was based on stereoselective iodolactonization followed by
dehydroiodination and lactone opening. Thus, amino acid (1R,2S)-(±)-1 on treatment with KI/I2 in the
presence of NaHCO3 gave regioselectively iodolactone (1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-(±)-2, which was then
subjected to dehydroiodination with DBU under basic conditions, affording unsaturated lactone
(1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3 (Scheme 1). The hydroxyl function in the cyclohexene skeleton was introduced
by lactone opening of (1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3 with NaOEt. When the reaction was performed in EtOH at
0 °C for 1 h the all-cis-5-hydroxlated amino ester (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4 was formed in good yield. By
contrast, upon reaction with NaOEt at 20 °C for 20 h lactone (1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3 underwent
epimerization at C-1 to give the hydroxylated amino ester stereoisomer (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5
(Scheme 1). The desired saturated analog of (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 was readily prepared in good yield by
Pd catalyzed hydrogenation performed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Other hydroxylated stereoiomers of (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4 and (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5 could be prepared
from N-Boc-protected amino acid (1S*,2S*)-(±)-7 when submitted to iodolatonization,
dehydroiodination, followed by lactone ring-opening with NaOEt to furnish selectively hydroxylated
amino ester stereoisomer (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10 (Scheme 2).

Molecules 2010, 15
Scheme 1. Synthesis of (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5 and (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6.
4000
O
O
COOH
NHBoc
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
KI, I2, NaHCO3
CH2Cl2 / H2O
20 °C, 12 h, 75%
I
NHBoc
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-6
(1R*,2S*)-(±)-1
(1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-(±)-2
*
DBU, THF, 65 °C
6 h, 72%
H2, 10% Pd/C
O
O
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOEt
NaOEt, EtOH, 0 °C
1 h, 67%
NaOEt, EtOH, 20 °C
20 h, 78%
NHBoc
NHBoc
4
(1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-
(1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-5
Scheme 2. Synthesis of (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10.
O
O
COOH
KI, I2, NaHCO3
CH2Cl2/H2O, 20 °C, 12 h, 83%
NHBoc
I
NHBoc
(1S*,2S*)-(±)-7
(1S*,2S*,4R*,5R*)-(±)-8
DBU, THF
65 °C, 3 h
71%
O
O
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
NaOEt, EtOH, 20 °C
2 h, 64%
NHBoc
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-10
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-9
2.2. Enzymatic hydrolysis of hydroxy-substituted β-amino esters (1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-
( )-5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10
On the basis of our earlier results on the enantioselective hydrolyses of β-amino esters using CAL-B
and lipase PS in an organic solvent [28–31] we carried out enzymatic screening experiments relating to
the hydrolysis of (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10 (Scheme 3) with 0.5 equiv. of H2O in i-Pr2O (Table 1, entries 1
and 11-15). Excepting lipase AK (Pseudomonas flurescens), which practically did not show any
selectivity, all the other lipases tested [CAL-A (Candida antarctica lipase A), CAL-B (Candida
antarctica lipase B), lipases PS (Burkholderia cepacis), AY (Candida rugosa) and PPL (porcine
pancreatic lipase)] all showed catalytic activity, but only CAL-B catalyzed the reaction at 60 ºC with
moderate enantioselectivity (eesubstrate 48% after 48 h). As it was later confirmed, the majority of the
antipodes of unreacted β-amino acid ethyl ester enantiomers were consumed in side-reactions
(polymerization).
In order to enhance the observed enantioselectivity, several solvents were tested in the CAL-B-
catalyzed hydrolysis of (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10 at 60 ºC (Table 1, entries 2-5). It could be appreciated
that the reaction proceeded more slowly and less enantioselectively in n-hexane and 1,4-dioxane
(entries 2 and 4), with better E and comparable reaction rate in toluene (entry 3) and with considerably
higher E and higher reaction rate in t-BuOMe (entry 5) relative to iPr2O (entry 1).

Molecules 2010, 15
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Scheme 3. Enzymatic hydrolysis of (1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5,
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10.
1
1
1
HO
COOEt
HO
COOH
HO
COOEt
H2O
5
5
5
+
lipase
organic solvent
NHBoc
NHBoc
NHBoc
2
2
2
(1R,2S,5S)-4
(1S,2R,5R)-11
4
(1S*,2R*,5R*)-(±)-
1
1
1
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOH
NHBoc
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
H2O
5
5
5
+
lipase
organic solvent
2
2
2
5
(1S,2S,5S)-5
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-6
10
(1R,2R,5R)-12
13
6
(1S,2S,5S)-
(1R,2R,5R)-
(1S,2S,5R)-10
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-
(1R,2R,5S)-14
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
6
(1S*,2R*,5R*)-(±)-4
5
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-
10
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-
Table 1. Conversion and enantioselectivity of enzymatic hydrolysis of (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10a.
Quantity
c
d
Temperatu
re (ºC.)
Time
(h)
Conv.b eeS
eeP
(%) (%)
Entry
Enzyme
of enzyme
(mg mL-1)
Solvent
Eb
(%)
1
2
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
CAL-B
Lipase PSe
CAL-Ae
Lipase AYe
Lipase AKe
PPL
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
50
75
30
30
30
30
30
60
60
60
60
60
50
40
70
60
60
45
45
45
45
45
iPr2O
n-hexane
toluene
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
40
40
40
48
48
48
48
48
37
24
35
25
45
35
36
35
40
42
22
44
11
25
20
48
18
48
16
75
47
46
44
53
60
10
7
82
58
91
48
91
86
81
82
81
83
35
9
16
4
3
34
3
4
1,4-dioxane
t-BuOMe
t-BuOMe
t-BuOMe
t-BuOMe
t-BuOMe
t-BuOMe
iPr2O
5
48
21
15
16
16
20
2
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
iPr2O
1
iPr2O
2
16
3
1
iPr2O
1
1
iPr2O
5
20
2
a 0.05 M substrate; b Apparent values, calculated from ee for unreacted amino ester and ee for
c
d
produced amino acid; According to GC or HPLC (Experimental Section); According to GC or
HPLC after double derivatization (Experimental Section); e Contains 20% (w/w) of lipase adsorbed
on Celite in the presence of sucrose.
On the basis of these preliminary results, preparative-scale resolutions of (1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4,
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10 were performed in t-BuOMe at
60 ºC in the presence of CAL-B (30 mg mL-1) with 0.5 equiv. of H2O. The results are summarized in
Table 2 and the Experimental Section. It can be noted, that the hydroxy-substituted β-amino acid

Molecules 2010, 15
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enantiomers (11−14) are missing from the Table, as above observed, the β-amino acid ethyl esters
(1S,2S,5R)-4, (1R,2R,5R)-5, (1R,2R,5R)-6 and (1R,2R,5S)-10 underwent polymerization (the side-
product(s) were not characterized). As it was confirmed for the product obtained from (1S,2S,5R)-4,
the mass spectrum shows two major peaks. The mass difference between these two peaks is 259.4 m/z.
This corresponds to the mass of one Boc-protected saturated amino acid. Furthermore the MS/MS
spectra of these two peaks show losses of Boc groups and Boc-protected saturated amino acid residues.
These results suggest the polymerization of the amino acid derivative. A possible pathway is the
enzyme catalyzed Michael addition. The NMR results support this view, because the signals of the
protons of the double bonds and the OH groups are missing. Since CAL-B showed S-selectivity
towards the earlier performed hydrolyses of cis and R-selectivity of trans carbocyclic β-amino esters
[28], S-selectivity for hydrolysis of (1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4 and R-selectivity for hydrolysis of
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10 has been assumed. These lipase-
catalysed reactions of hydroxy-substituted β-amino esters presumably proceeds in two stages: first, the
Ser OH attacks the carbonyl group of ester function and forms the acyl-enzyme intermediate and
second, deacylation of the enzyme in combination with side reactions (polymerization) results the
products (β-amino acid being one of them). Even though modelling has not been used, knowledge of
the active site structure of CAL-B, together with the stereostructures of hydroxy-substituted β-amino
esters (CS Chem 3D 6.0) and a consideration of the results obtained for the CAL-B-catalysed
hydrolysis of ethyl cis-(2-aminocyclohex-3-ene)-1-carboxylate (Figure 1), can be utilized to predict the
interaction between the substrate and the acyl binding site. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the possible
accommodations for the enantiomers in the apparent active site of CAL-B (only the Ser residue is
indicated), which suggest the proposed selectivities, since the orientations (1R,2S,5S)-4, (1S,2S,5S)-5,
(1S,2S,5S)-6 and (1S,2S,5R)-10 do not appear to be appropriate to ensure Ser OH attack.
Figure 1. S-selective hydrolysis of ethyl cis-(2-aminocyclohex-3-ene)-1-carboxylate [28].
R
S
COOH
NH2
COOEt
NH2
Ser
(1R,2S)
NH2
S
COOH
NH2
COOEt
NH2
COOEt
R
(1S,2R)
Ser

Molecules 2010, 15
4003
Figure 2. S-selective hydrolysis of (1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4.
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOH
NHBoc
(1R,2S,5S)-4
11
(1R,2S,5S)-
Ser
NHBoc
COOEt
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOH
NHBoc
11
OH
(1S,2R,5R)-
(1S,2R,5R)-4
Ser
Figure 3. R-selective hydrolysis of (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10.
HO
COOEt
NHBoc
HO
COOH
NHBoc
(1S,2S,5S)-5
(1S,2S,5S)-12
6
(1S,2S,5S)-
(1S,2S,5R)-10
(1S,2S,5S)-13
(1S,2S,5R)-14
Ser
NHBoc
COOEt
HO
COOEt
HO
COOH
NHBoc
NHBoc
OH
(1R,2R,5R)-12
(1R,2R,5R)-13
(1R,2R,5S)-14
5
6
(1R,2R,5R)-
(1R,2R,5R)-
Ser
(1R,2R,5S)-10

Molecules 2010, 15
4004
Table 2. Lipase-catalyzed preparative-scale hydrolyses of (1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4,
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5, (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 and (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10a.
Unreacted enantiomer
Racemate
Time (days) Conv.b (%)
Yield (%)
Isomer
eec (%) [α]D25 (EtOH)
(1S*,2R*,5R*)-( )-4
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10
10
10
10
7
43
41
36
43
32
34
29
41
(1R,2S,5S)-4
(1S,2S,5S)-5
(1S,2S,5S)-6
(1S,2S,5R)-10
68
78
54
90
+34 (c 0.19)
+16 (c 0.165)
-4 (c 0.24)
+100 (c 0.155)
a 0.5 equiv. of H2O; CAL-B (30 mg mL-1) in t-BuOMe at 60 ºC; b Calculated using an internal
standard (n-heptadecane, GC); c According to GC or HPLC (Experimental Section).
3. Experimental
3.1. Materials and methods
CAL-B (lipase B from Candida antarctica, produced by the submerged fermentation of a
genetically modified Aspergillus oryzae microorganism and adsorbed on a macroporous resin) and
porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) were from Sigma-Aldrich. CAL-A (lipase A from Candida antarctica)
was purchased from Roche Diagnostics Corporation. Lipase PS-IM (immobilized on diatomaceous
earth) and PS–SD (Burkholderia cepacia) were kind gifts from Amano Enzyme Europe Ltd. Lipase
AK (Pseudomonas fluorescens) was from Amano Pharmaceuticals, and lipase AY (Candida rugosa)
was from Fluka. All the chemicals were purchased from Aldrich or Fluka. The solvents were of the
highest analytical grade. Melting points were determined with a Kofler apparatus. NMR spectra were
recorded on a Bruker DRX 400 spectrometer. Chemical shifts are given in ppm relative to TMS as
internal standard, with CDCl3 or DMSO as solvent. Optical rotations were measured with a Perkin-
Elmer 341 polarimeter. The mass spectra were recorded on a Finnigan MAT 95S spectrometer.
Elemental analyses were performed with a Perkin-Elmer CHNS-2400 Ser II Elemental Analyzer.
Compounds (1R*,2S*)-(±)-1 and (1S*,2S*)-(±)-7 were prepared according to our earlier method [32].
3.2. Typical small-scale enzymatic experiment
Racemic substrate (0.05 M solution) in an organic solvent (1 mL) was added to the lipase tested
(30, 50 or 75 mg mL-1). Water (0.5 equiv.) was next added. The mixture was shaken at 40, 50, 60 or 70
°C. The progress of the reaction was followed by taking samples from the reaction mixture at intervals
and analysing them by GC or HPLC. The ee values for the unreacted β-amino ester (1S,2S,5R)-10 and
produced β-amino acid (1R,2R,5S)-14 enantiomers were determined by using HPLC equipped with
Chiralpak IA 5 µ column (0.4 cm × 1 cm), after derivatization (Ac2O in the presence of 4-dimethyl-
aminopyridine and pyridine) for (1S,2S,5R)-10 and double derivatization (CH2N2, Ac2O in the
presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine and pyridine) [33] for (1R,2R,5S)-14 [the mobile phase:
n-hexane/2-propanol (90/10); flow rate 0.5 mL min-1; detection at 205 nm; retention times (min);
(1S,2S,5R)-10: 28.96 (antipode: 24.96); (1R,2R,5S)-14: 28,06 (antipode: 36.05)]. The ee values for
(1R,2S,5S)-4, (1S,2S,5S)-5, (1S,2S,5S)-6, (1S,2R,5R)-11, (1R,2R,5R)-12 and (1R,2R,5R)-13, were
determined by using GC equipped with Chromopack Chiralsil-Dex CB column (25 m) after
derivatization with CH2N2 [33] [190 °C; 140 kPa; retention times (min): (1S,2S,5S)-5: 12.67 (antipode:

Molecules 2010, 15
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13.28); (1R,2R,5R)-12: 11.80 (antipode: 11.30); (1S,2S,5S)-6: 13,29 (antipode: 14.51); (1R,2R,5R)-13:
12.87 (antipode: 12.38)], [170 °C; 140 kPa; retention times (min): (1R,2S,5S)-4: 27.06 (antipode:
28.12); (1S,2R,5R)-11: 14.47 (antipode: 13.76)].
3.3. Synthesis of iodolactones tert-butyl (1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-4-iodo-7-oxo-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-
ylcarbamate [(1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-(±)-2] and tert-butyl (1S*,2S*,4R*,5R*)-4-iodo-7-oxo-6-oxabicyclo-
[3.2.1]octan-2-ylcarbamate [(1S*,2S*,4R*,5R*)-(±)-8] [32]
To a solution of N-Boc-protected amino acid [36 mmol (1R*,2S*)-(±)-1 or (1S*,2S*)-(±)-7] in
CH2Cl2 (200 mL), KI (5 equiv, 180 mmol), NaHCO3 (4 equiv, 144 mmol), H2O (200 mL) and I2 (2.1
equiv, 75 mmol) were added. After stirring for 12 h at room temperature, the mixture was taken up in
CH2Cl2 (300 mL), and washed with saturated aqueous Na2SO3 solution. The organic layer was then
dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure and resulted (1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-(±)-2 [white
solid; yield: 75%; mp 180–183 °C (n-hexane); (Rf = 0.7, n-hexane-EtOAc 2:1)] or (1S*,2S*,4R*,5R*)-
(±)-8 [white solid; yield: 83%; mp 128–130 °C (n-hexane); (Rf = 0.65, n-hexane-EtOAc 2:1)].
1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) for (1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-(±)-2: δ = 1.48 (s, 9H, tBu), 2.13–2.23 (m, 1H,
CH2), 2.45–2.53 (m, 2H, CH2), 2.79–2.90 (m, 2H, H-1 and CH2), 4.16–4.22 (m, 1H, H-4), 4.48–4.53
13
(m, 1H, H-2), 4.78 (brs, 1H, N-H), 4.80–4.85 (m, 1H, H-5); C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 20.8,
28.7, 33.9, 36.9, 44.9, 46.1, 80.1, 82.0, 156.8, 172.0.
1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) for (1S*,2S*,4R*,5R*)-(±)-8: δ = 1.50 (s, 9H, tBu), 2.23–2.30 (m, 1H,
CH2), 2.33–2.43 (m, 1H, CH2), 2.87–3.07 (m, 3H, H-1 and CH2), 4.22–4.25 (m, 1H, H-4), 4.38–4.43
13
(m, 1H, H-2), 4.88–4.93 (m, 1H, H-5), 5.38 (brs, 1H, N-H); C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 20.1,
28.5, 29.1, 33.9, 43.0, 46.6, 79.4, 81.7, 177.0, 179.0.
3.4. Dehydroiodination reactions to obtain tert-butyl (1R*,2S*,5S*)-7-oxo-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-
en-2-ylcarbamate [(1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3] and tert-butyl (1S*,2S*,5R*)-7-oxo-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-
en-2-ylcarbamate [(1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-9]
To a solution of iodolactone [12 mmol (1R*,2S*,4S*,5S*)-(±)-2 or (1S*,2S*,4R*,5R*)-(±)-8] in
THF (60 mL) DBU (2.1 equiv, 25.2 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 65 °C for 4 h.
Then the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue was taken up in EtOAc
(140 mL). The organic layer was washed with H2O (3 x 70 mL), dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated
under vacuum. The residue was crystallized from n-hexane-EtOAc and resulted (1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3
[white solid; yield: 72%; mp 148–149 °C (n-hexane-EtOAc); (Rf = 0.6, n-hexane-EtOAc 2:1)] or
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-9 [white solid; yield: 71%; mp 149–151 °C (n-hexane); (Rf = 0.6, n-hexane-EtOAc
2:1)].
1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) for (1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3: δ = 1.48 (s, 9H, tBu), 2.16–2.22 (m, 1H, CH2),
2.54–2.63 (m, 1H, CH2), 3.01–3.06 (m, 1H, H-1), 4.66–4.72 (m, 1H, H-2), 4.48–4.53 (m, 1H, H-2),
4.81–4.85 (m, 1H-5), 4.90 (brs, 1H, N-H), 5.78–5.82 (m, 1H, H-3), 6.30–6.37 (m, 1H, H-4); 13C-NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 28.7, 37.1, 44.1, 48.9, 73.5, 80.6, 131.1, 132.1, 158.8, 172.4.

Molecules 2010, 15
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1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) for (1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-9: δ = 1.42 (s, 9H, tBu), 2.28–2.36 (m, 2H, CH2),
2.69–2.75 (m, 1H, H-1), 4.20–4.28 (m, 1H, H-2), 4.71–4.76 (m, 1H, H-5), 5.59–5.65 (m, 1H, H-3),
6.40–6.46 (m, 1H, H-4), 7.48 (brs, 1H, N-H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO): 29.1, 31.5, 44.4, 47.6,
73.9, 79.4, 131.1, 132.9, 155.7, 178.2.
3.5. Lactone ring opening reaction to obtain ethyl (1R*,2S*,5S*)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-5-
hydroxycyclohex-3-enecarboxylate [(1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4], ethyl (1S*,2S*,5S*)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl-
amino)-5-hydroxycyclohex-3-enecarboxylate [(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5] and ethyl (1S*,2S*,5R*)-2-(tert-
butoxycarbonylamino)-5-hydroxycyclohex-3-enecarboxylate [(1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10]
To a solution of unsaturated lactone [4 mmol of (1R*,2S*,5S*)-(±)-3 or (1S*,2S*,5R*)-(±)-9)] in
anhydrous EtOH (20 mL) NaOEt (1.2 equiv, 4.8 mmol) was added at 0 °C and the reaction mixture
was further stirred at the temperature and time indicated. Then the EtOH was removed under reduced
pressure at 40 °C and the residue was taken up in EtOAc (50 mL). The organic layer was washed with
H2O (3 × 25 mL), dried (Na2SO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude residue was
crystallized from n-hexane-EtOAc to give the desired product:
(1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4: white solid; yield: 67%; mp 88–90 °C (n-hexane-EtOAc); (Rf = 0.4, n-hexane-
1
EtOAc 1:1). H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.26 (t, 3H, CH3), 1.42 (s, 9H, tBu), 1.88–1.65 (m, 1H,
CH2), 2.09–2.17 (m, 1H, CH2), 2.84–2.91 (m, 1H, H-1), 4.08–4.18 (m, 3H, OCH2 and H-2), 4.46–4.50
(m, 1H, H-5), 4.90 (brs, 1H, N-H), 5.67–5.71 (m, 1H, H-3), 5.82–5.88 (m, 1H, H-4); 13C-NMR
(100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 14.8, 29.0, 29.7, 42.9, 45.8, 61.6, 66.2, 78.6, 126.9, 125.9, 155.6, 172.8.
(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5: white solid; yield: 78%; mp 107–108 °C (n-hexane-EtOAc); (Rf = 0.35, n-
hexane-EtOAc 1:1). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ = 1.18 (t, 3H, CH3), 1.37 (s, 9H, tBu), 1.72–1.80
(m, 2H, CH2), 2.67–2.70 (m, 1H, H-1), 4.00–4.15 (m, 4H, OCH2, H-2 and H-5), 4.86 (brs, 1H, O-H),
5.46–5.52 (m, 1H, H-3), 5.68–5.73 (m, 1H, H-4), 6.68 (brs, 1H, N-H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO):
δ = 14.8, 29.1, 34.3, 41.8, 49.3, 60.8, 61.6, 78.6, 131.0, 131.4, 156.0, 174.6.
(1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10: white solid; yield: 64%; mp 130–133 °C (n-hexane-EtOAc); (Rf = 0.4, n-
1
hexane-EtOAc 1:1). H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ = 1.17 (t, 3H, CH3, J = 7.15 Hz), 1.36 (s, 9H,
tBu), 1.46–1.53 (m, 1H, CH2), 1.97–2.07 (m, 1H, CH2), 3.96–4.11 (m, 3H, OCH2 and H-2), 4.18–4.25
(m, 1H, H-5), 4.90 (brs, 1H, O-H), 5.35–5.40 (m, 1H, H-3), 5.59–5.63 (m, 1H, H-4), 6.93 (brs, 1H, N-
H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO): δ = 14.9, 29.1, 36.1, 45.9, 49.6, 60.9, 65.6, 78.6, 129.9, 134.3,
155.9, 173.8.
3.6. Preparation of ethyl (1S*,2S*,5S*)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)-5-hydroxycyclohexane-
carboxylate [(1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6]
A solution of (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5 (200 mg), 10% Pd/C (40 mg) in EtOAc (15 mL) was stirred under
H2 atmosphere at room temperature for 2 h. Then the Pd was filtered off through Celite and the filtrate
was concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified on column chromatography
on silica gel (n-hexane-EtOAc 1:1) and resulted (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 as a colourless oil; yield: 89%;

Molecules 2010, 15
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(Rf = 0.4, n-hexane-EtOAc 1:1). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.24 (t, 3H, CH3, J = 7.10 Hz), 1.42
(s, 9H, tBu), 1.57–2.00 (m, 6 H, CH2, 2.68–2.79 (m, 1H, H-1), 3.68–3.80 (m, 1H, H-2), 4.07–4.20 (m,
13
3H, OCH2 and H-5), 4.61 (brs, 1H, N-H). C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 14.6, 27.2, 28.7, 31.6,
35.1, 44.6, 50.9, 61.0, 65.0, 79.7, 155.4, 174.3.
3.7. Preparative-scale resolution of (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4
Compound (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4 (200 mg, 0.70 mmol) was dissolved in t-BuOMe (40 mL). CAL-B
(1 g, 25 mg mL-1) and H2O (6.3 μL, 0.35 mmol) were added and the mixture was shaken in an
incubator shaker at 60 °C for 10 days. The reaction was stopped by filtering off the enzyme at 43%
conversion. The solvent was evaporated off, and the residue purified by column chromatography (n-
25
hexane:EtOAc 1:3); (Rf = 0.6, n-hexane-EtOAc 1:3) to give (1R,2S,5S)-4 [68 mg, 32%; [α]D = +34
(c 0.19 EtOH); m.p. 69–71 °C; ee = 74%]. The filtered-off enzyme was washed with distilled H2O (3 x
15 mL), than with MeOH (3 x 15 mL) and the combined solvents was evaporated off, yielding the
mixture of mainly polymeric products and amino acid. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS) data
for (1R,2S,5S)-4 were similar to those for (1R*,2S*,5S*)-( )-4. Analysis: calculated for C14H23NO5
(285.34): C, 58.93; H, 8.12; N, 4.91; found: C, 58.80; H, 8.08; N, 4.92.
3.8. Preparative-scale resolution of (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5
Following the procedure described above, the reaction of racemic (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5 (200 mg,
0.70 mmol) and H2O (6.3 μL, 0.35 mmol) in t-BuOMe (40 mL) on the presence of CAL-B (1 g,
25 mg mL-1) at 60 °C afforded after 10 days (1S,2S,5S)-5 [64 mg, 32%; [α]D25 = +16 (c 0.165 EtOH);
1
m.p. 100–102 °C; ee = 78%]. H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS) data for (1S,2S,5S)-5 were
similar to those for (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5. Analysis: calculated for C14H23NO5 (285.34): C, 58.93; H,
8.12; N, 4.91; found: C, 58.80; H, 8.08; N, 4.92.
3.9. Preparative-scale resolution of (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6
Following the procedure described above, the reaction of racemic (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6 (200 mg,
0.69 mmol) and H2O (6.3 μL, 0.35 mmol) in t-BuOMe (40 mL) on the presence of CAL-B (1 g, 25
25
mg mL-1) at 60 °C afforded after 10 days (1S,2S,5S)-6 [58 mg, 29%; [α]D = -4 (c 0.24 EtOH);
yellowish oil; ee = 54%]. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS) data for (1S,2S,5S)-6 were similar
to those for (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-6. Analysis: calculated for C14H25NO5 (287.35): C, 58.52; H, 8.77; N,
4.87; found: C, 58.66; H, 8.62; N, 4.85.
3.10. Preparative-scale resolution of (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10
Following the procedure described above, the reaction of racemic (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10 (200 mg,
0.70 mmol) and H2O (6.3 μL, 0.35 mmol) in t-BuOMe (40 mL) on the presence of CAL-B (1 g,
25
25 mg mL-1) at 60 °C afforded after 7 days (1S,2S,5R)-10 [97 mg, 0.48%; [α]D = +100 (c 0.18
EtOH); m.p. 142–144 °C; ee = 90%]. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS) data for (1R,2R,5R)-5
1
were similar to those for (1S*,2S*,5S*)-( )-5. H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 25 °C, TMS) data for

Molecules 2010, 15
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(1S,2S,5R)-10 were similar to those for (1S*,2S*,5R*)-( )-10. Analysis: calculated for C14H23NO5
(285.34): C, 58.93; H, 8.12; N, 4.91; found: C, 58.91; H, 8.00; N, 4.97.
4. Conclusions
Four hydroxy-substituted β-amino ester stereoisomers were resolved through a simple direct
enzymatic method, involving CAL-B-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis in organic media.
Moderate to good enantiomeric excess values (ee ≥ 52%) were obtained for the unreacted amino esters
when the reactions were performed with 0.5 equiv. of added H2O, in t-BuOMe, at 60 ºC. Due to
polymerization, the supposed β-amino acid enantiomers practically could not be isolated.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Hungarian Research Foundation (OTKA No K 71938 and NK
81371) for financial support and for the award of Bolyai János Fellowship to Enikő Forró and Loránd
Kiss. Thanks are due to Mr. István Mándity for his MS measurements. We are also indebted to
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt-México) for financial support via Grants 60366
and J000.052 (México-Hungary Program, NKTH).
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