Remarkable Effect of D-Sorbitol on the Second Stage in the PLE-Catalyzed Hydrolyses of a σ-Symmetric Diester,<i>cis</i>-Cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-bis(methyl acetate)
Enantioselective hydrolysis of cis-cyclohex-4-ene-1,2-bis(methyl acetate) with porcine liver esterase (PLE) in the presence of D-sorbitol afforded a chiral monoester in a highly enantioselective manner. During the enzymatic hydrolyses, D-sorbitol efficiently accelerate the second stage; hydrolysis of the resultant minor monoester toward the dicarboxylic acid leaving the desired major monoester.
Enzymatic hydrolyses of some prochiral σ-symmetric dimethyl esters employing porcine liver esterase and porcine pancreatic lipase were investigated, resulting in the enantioselective preparation of the corresponding new monoesters useful for (+)-carbacyclin synthesis. It was also demonstrated that the hydrolysis with porcine liver esterase was remarkably affected by acetone as a co-solvent.