Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of 3-hydroxy-3-(2-thienyl) propanenitrile in liquid carbon dioxide

Abstract

The transesterification of 3-hydroxy-3-(2-thienyl) propanenitrile catalyzed by Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase (PFL) in liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) was reported. Compared with that in organic solvent (n-hexane), the catalytic performance of PFL was dramatically enhanced in liquid CO2. Under the optimal reaction conditions, PFL exhibited an excellent enantioselectivity (E-value: 92.9) with a high enzyme activity (82.5 μmol/g/min). Besides, the remained (S)-3-hydroxy-3-(2-thienyl) propanenitrile with high enantiomeric purity (ee > 99%) was obtained in 4 h when the conversion was about 52%. Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 3-hydroxy-3-(2-thienyl) propanenitrile in liquid CO2

Keywords

• Lipase
• transesterification
• 3-hydroxy-3-(2-thienyl) propanenitrile
• liquid carbon dioxide