The development and evaluation of a continuous flow process for the lipase-mediated oxidation of alkenes

Abstract

We report the use of an immobilised form of Candida antarctica lipase B, Novozym® 435, in a preliminary investigation into the development of a continuous flow reactor capable of performing the chemo-enzymatic oxidation of alkenes in high yield and purity, utilising the commercially available oxidant hydrogen peroxide (100 volumes). Initial investigations focussed on the lipase-mediated oxidation of 1-methylcyclohexene, with the optimised reaction conditions subsequently employed for the epoxidation of an array of aromatic and aliphatic alkenes in 97.6 to 99.5% yield and quantitative purity.

Keywords

• Candida antarctica lipase B
• continuous flow
• epoxidation
• hydrogen peroxide
• lipase
• micro reactor
• Novozym® 435
• peracids