Enzymatic preparation of homochiral 2-isobutyl succinic acid derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(96)00515-0

An efficient enzymatic procedure for the enantio- and regioselective monohydrolysis of diethyl 2-isobutyl succinate 3 using subtilisin Carlsberg has been developed. The product (R)-2-isobutyl succinic acid 4-ethyl ester 4, a collagenase inhibitor building block, was obtained in high enantiomeric excess (> 99%) and yield (> 45%). Similarly, (R)-2-isobutyl succinic acid 4-nitrile 2 was produced in 98% ee from its ethyl ester 1.