RESOLUTION OF CHIRAL ALIPHATIC AND ARYLALKYL AMINES USING IMMOBILIZED CANDIDA ANTARCTICA LIPASE AND ISOLATION OF THEIR R- AND S-ENANTIOMERS

Abstract

The resolution of chiral aliphatic and arylalkyl amines in high enantiomeric excess (up to 97.5% ee for the R-enantiomers and up to 99.9% ee for the S-enantiomers) and good yield (50–80%) using immobilized Candida antarctica lipase and ethyl acetate as acyl donor has been demonstrated. A second resolution on the R-amine increased the enantiomeric excess to more than 99.5% (up to 99.9%).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Novo-Nordisk North America, Inc., for the generous gift of Novozym 435. Financial support from Saskatchewan Health and technical assistance from D. Young are gratefully acknowledged.