Improving performance of Yarrowia lipolytica lipase lip2-catalyzed kinetic resolution of (R, S)-1-phenylethanol by solvent engineering

Abstract

Extracellular Yarrowia lipolytica lipase Lip2 (YLIP2) demonstrated an (R)-enantiopreference for efficient resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol by solvent engineering with different kinds of binary solvent. The enantioselectivity was significantly improved by the addition of 1, 4-dioxane. The reaction parameters including co-solvent concentration, reaction temperature, and the reaction time were optimized. When the reaction was carried out with n-hexane in the presence of 0.8% 1,4-dioxane at 50°C for 72 h, the enantiomeric excess of product markedly increased to 99.1% from 66% in pure n-hexane; the enantiomeric ratio was higher than 200, which was 500-fold compared with that in pure n-hexane. The results indicated that it is very important to design the proper co-solvents, especially to create appropriate micro-environment for YLIP2 for catalyzing the resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol.