Enzymatic synthesis of beta-hydroxycarboxylic acids

ORGN 380

Tilo Habicher1, Frank Haunert1, and Bernhard Hauer, bernhard.hauer@basf-ag.de2. (1) Fine Chemicals & Biocatalysis, BASF AG, Carl-Bosch Str, Ludwigshafen, 67056, Germany, (2) GVF/E = B009, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, 67056, Germany
BASF is applying biocatalysis at large scale to produce chiral synthons as advanced intermediates or in custom synthesis. The use of lipases for the racemic resolution will be described at the example of b-hydroxycarboxylic acids.

In a screening process a variety of different enzymes were tested in two different approaches: 1) the racemic resolution of the racemic b-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester via enzymatic hydrolysis or transesterification, and 2) the selective enzymatic ring opening of a corresponding b-lactone.

The findings of the first enzyme screening will be introduced together with a laboratory synthesis deduced from it. An optimized synthesis was scaled up successfully to 4000 liter scale.

 

Proteins, Peptides, Amino Acids, and Enzymes
8:00 AM-11:40 AM, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 Convention Center -- Room 9, Oral

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 229th ACS National Meeting, in San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2005