Enantioselectivity of alcohol-treated Candidarugosa lipase in the kinetic resolution of racemic methyl 2-aryloxypropionates in water and aqueous organic media

Abstract

Racemic methyl 2-aryloxypropionates (±)- 1 were subjected to hydrolysis in water and in a series of two-phase aqueous organic media in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL). The biocatalytic material used was the enzyme of commercial CRL purified by treatment with different alcohols. The purification of CRL and the reaction medium play an important role in the enantioselection of racemates (±)- 1. While it is not possible to use the same protocol for all substrates, by combining the different ways of purifying the enzyme with the various reaction media, it is possible to achieve high enantioselectivities of racemic esters.