Ionic acylating agents for the enzymatic resolution of sec-alcohols in ionic liquids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ejoc.201000640

Potential acylating agents containing pendant ionic groups have been screened for the enzymatic kinetic resolution of rac-secondary alcohols in ionic liquids with CAL-B as biocatalyst. This study has allowed the identification of the 1-methyl-3-alkylimidazolium cation attached to a carboxylate group through a C₁₀-alkyl chain as an efficient acylating agent for this transformation. This strategy was applied to the resolution of 2-hydroxycyclohexanecarbonitrile in which the 1R,2S enantiomer was isolated in 35 % ee (73 % yield) and the 1S,2R enantiomer in 97 % ee (23 % yield). Potential acylating agents containing pendant ionic groups have been screened for the enzymatic kinetic resolution of rac-secondary alcohols in ionic liquids with CAL-B as biocatalyst. This study has allowed theidentification of the 1-methyl-3-alkylimidazolium cation attached to a carboxylate group through a C₁₀-alkyl chain as an efficient acylating agent for this transformation. Copyright