The enantiomer ratio strongly depends on the alkyl part of the acyl donor in transesterification with lipase B from Candida antarctica

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0957-4166(96)00421-1

Three secondary alcohols, 1-phenoxy-, 1-phenylmethoxy- and 1-(2-phenylethoxy)-2-propanol, have been resolved by transesterification with the acyl donors 2-chloroethyl butanoate, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl butanoate, vinyl butanoate and butanoic anhydride using lipase B from Candida antarctica as catalyst in hexane. The enantiomer rate E, which was calculated on the basis of a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism, was highest when 2-chloroethyl butanoate was used as acyl donor, however the reaction was reversible. It was shown that the E-value increased when the amount of 2,2,2-trichloroethyl butanoate was reduced. It is also indicated that butanoic anhydride and vinyl butanoate make the lipase less specific probably by acylation. Copyright (C) Elsevier Science Ltd.