Dynamic kinetic resolutions and asymmetric transformations by enzyme-metal combo catalysis

Abstract

Enzyme-metal combo catalysis is described as a useful methodology for the synthesis of optically active compounds. The key point of the method is the use of enzyme and metal in combination as the catalysts for the complete transformation of racemic substrates to single enantiomeric products through dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). In this approach, enzyme acts as an enantioselective resolving catalyst and metal does as a racemizing catalyst for the efficient DKR. Three kinds of enzyme-metal combinations - lipase-ruthenium, subtilisin-ruthenium, and lipase-palladium - have been developed as the catalysts for the DKRs of racemic alcohols, esters, and amines. The scope of the combination catalysts can be extended to the asymmetric transformations of ketones, enol acetates, and ketoximes via the DKRs. In most cases studied, enzyme-metal combo catalysis provided enantiomerically-enriched products in high yields.