(MDPI, 2018) Gonzalo Calvo, Gonzalo de; Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento de Química Orgánica
Optically active 1,2-diols are valuable buildings blocks in organic synthesis. In the present
paper, a set of racemic 1,2-diols with an ester functional group are prepared, starting from -ketoesters
in a three-step procedure with moderate yields. The racemic 1,2-diols, containing a chiral quaternary
center in their structure, are subjected to selective acylation in order to perform their kinetic resolution
catalysed by a set of commercially available lipases. Under optimized reaction conditions, good
conversions and enantioselectivities are achieved by using the lipase PSL-C from Pseudomonas
cepacia in tert-butyl methyl ether. This biocatalyst could be reused up to five times without losing
its properties.
