Enzymatic ammonolysis of ethyl (±)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate. Chemoenzymatic syntheses of both enantiomers of pyrrolidin-3-ol and 5-(chloromethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

Abstract

Lipase B from Candida antarctica efficiently catalysed the kinetic resolution of ethyl (±)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate through an ammonolysis reaction. Using this methodology, both enantiomers of 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanamide were prepared and converted into pyrrolidin-3-ol and 5-(chloromethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one by simple processes consisting of a reduction reaction and a Hofmann rearrangement, respectively.