Development of dynamic kinetic resolution on large scale for (±)-1-phenylethylamine.

Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) and racemization catalyst 4 were combined in the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of (±)-1-phenylethylamine (1). Several reaction parameters have been investigated to modify the method for application on multigram scale. A comparison of isopropyl acetate and alkyl methoxyacetates as acyl donors was carried out. It was found that lower catalyst loadings could be used to obtain (R)-2-methoxy-N-(1-phenylethyl)acetamide (3) in good yield and high ee when alkyl methoxyacetates were used as acyl donors compared to when isopropyl acetate was used as the acyl donor. The catalyst loading could be decreased to 1.25 mol % Ru-catalyst 4 and 10 mg CALB per mmol 1 when alkyl methoxyacetates were used as the acyl donor.

Enantioselective synthesis of α-methyl carboxylic acids from readily available starting materials via chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution.

An enantioselective method for the synthesis of α-methyl carboxylic acids starting from trans-cinnamaldehyde, a readily available and inexpensive compound, has been developed. Allylic alcohol 1 was obtained via a standard Grignard addition to trans-cinnamaldehyde. Dynamic kinetic resolution was applied to allylic alcohol 1 utilizing a ruthenium catalyst and either an (R)-selective lipase or an (S)-selective protease to provide the corresponding allylic esters in high yield and high ee. A copper-catalyzed allylic substitution was then applied to provide the corresponding alkenes with inversion of stereochemistry. Subsequent C-C double bond cleavage afforded pharmaceutically important α-methyl substituted carboxylic acids in high ee and overall yields of up to 76%.

A chemoenzymatic approach to enantiomerically pure amines using dynamic kinetic resolution: application to the synthesis of norsertraline.

Racemization catalyst 5 c and the enzyme Candida antarctica lipase B were combined in a one-pot dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of primary amines in which a wide range of amines were transformed to their corresponding amides in up to 95 % isolated yield and >99 % ee. The DKR protocol was applicable with either isopropyl acetate or dibenzyl carbonate as the acyl donor. In the latter case, release of the free amine from the carbamate products was carried out under very mild conditions. The racemization of (S)-1-phenylethylamine with several different Ru catalysts was also evaluated. Catalyst 5 c, of the Shvo type, was able to selectively racemize amines and was also compatible with the reaction conditions used for DKR. A racemization study of three different amines with varying electronic properties was also performed. Competitive racemization of a 1:1 mixture of the deuterated and non-deuterated amine was carried out with 5 c and a primary kinetic isotope effect was observed for all three amines, providing support that the rate-determining step is beta-hydride elimination. The chemoenzymatic DKR protocol was applied to the synthesis of norsertraline (16) by using a novel route starting from readily available 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylamine (1 o).