Phosphonotrixin is a herbicidal antibiotic characterized by a unique structure bearing a C-P bond on an isoprene unit. The formal enantioselective synthesis of (S)-(-)-phosphonotrixin (ee = 93%) in nine steps and 12% overall yield from 1,3-dihydroxyacetone or in eight steps and 11% overall yield from 1,3-dichloroacetone is reported. The key reaction is the enzymatic desymmetrization of 2-isopropenylpropane-1,2,3-triol. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chemoenzymatic enantioselective synthesis of 2-substituted glycerol derivatives
2-Substitutedglycerol derivatives 4a–g were resolved by acylation with vinyl butyrate in the presence of lipases in organic media. The reverse reaction, the enzymatic hydrolysis of the corresponding butyrates 5a–g, was also highly stereoselective and provided the opposite enantiomers. High enantioselectivities (ee >90%) and good isolated yields were obtained for all substrates using the appropriate