Easy kinetic resolution of some β-amino alcohols by Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed hydrolysis in organic media

Herein, we present an easy and eco-friendly pathway to obtain some enantiomerically enriched beta-amino alcohols using essentially as beta-blockers. The enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted in hydrophobic organic media, assisted by sodium carbonate and CAL-B. We describe a new and effective procedure in terms of the chemo- and enantioselectivity, which allows for the formation of both enantiomers: the 2-acetamido-1-arylacetates and 2-acetamido-1-arylethanols were obtained with high ee values (up to >99%), while the selectivities reached E >200. The obtained results show a high CAL-B affinity toward the deacylation of the 2-acetamido-l-arylacetates compared to the acylation one. The structure of the 2-acetamido-1-arylacetates had a significant influence on both reactivity and selectivity of the CAL-B catalyzed deacylation. A multigram scale O-deacylation of racemic 2-acetamido-1-phenylacetate has been carried out, giving access both enantiomers with high enantiomeric purity and good isolated chemical yields. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.