Enzymatic enantioselective ester hydrolysis by carboxylesterase NP

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/recl.19921111104

The enzymatic hydrolysis of a series of carboxylic esters by carboxylesterase NP has been investigated in order to determine the scope and limitations of this enzyme. 2-Substituted propionates were hydrolyzed with high enantioselectivity when an aromatic moiety was part of the 2-substituent.Enantioselective hydrolysis could be accomplished with several 2-arypropionates, 2-(aryloxy)propionates and N-arylalanine esters.The propionate esters yielded propionic acids as (S) enantiomers, whereas the alanine esters yielded the (R) enantiomers.Without a 2-aryl substituent, the enzymatic hydrolysis of the propionates occurred at a lower rate without acceptable enantioselectivity.In addition to 2-substituted propionates, only a few other esters were hydrolyzed with high enantioselectivity by carboxylesterase NP, such as some prochiral disubstituted malonates. 1-Phenylethylacetate was the only substrate with chirality in the alcohol part of the ester that was found to be hydrolyzed enantioselectively.Carboxylesterase NP proved to be a powerful enzyme for kinetic resolution of propionate esters with an aromatic ring containing a 2-substituent.