The enzymatic carboligation of aldehydes (CâC bond formation) catalyzed by benzaldehyde lyase (BAL) affords chiral α-hydroxy-ketones under mild reaction conditions in aqueous media. To enhance substrate and product availability under aqueous conditions, processes are often set-up using either DMSO as co-solvent, or MTBE as second organic phase. Although efficient, DMSO leads to difficulties in separation during downstream processing, with wastewater formation. MTBE provides a cleaner and straightforward work-up, but its petrochemical origin, together with its poor degradability, gives rise to environmental concerns. Herein it is reported that 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF) is a promising candidate to substitute DMSO or MTBE in lyase-catalyzed reactions. 2-MTHF can be derived from bio-based resources (e.g. levulinic acid), and it is abiotically degraded by air. When BAL is added to buffer-2-MTHF (5% v/v) mixtures, enzyme remains stable with a half-life of 178 ± 8 h, with productivities (benzoin synthesis) of 10 g benzoin Lâ1hâ1. Several BAL-catalyzed aldehyde carboligations were assessed under those conditions, leading in all cases to high isolated yield (quantitative in majority), and to high enantioselectivity (up to >99%). Furthermore, preliminary results obtained with two phase systems in the BAL-catalyzed benzoin synthesis afforded 60 g benzoin Lâ1 in 24 h (ee > 99%). Therefore, 2-MTHF may be a valuable (co)solvent, not only to tackle environmental concerns, but also in terms of practical, efficient biocatalysis.
在
水介质中,
苯甲醛裂解酶(BAL)催化的醛的酶碳化反应(CâC 键形成)可在温和的反应条件下生成手性 δ- 羟基酮。为了提高
水介质条件下底物和产物的利用率,通常使用
DMSO 作为助溶剂或
MTBE 作为第二有机相进行工艺设置。
DMSO 虽然高效,但在下游处理过程中难以分离,还会产生废
水。
MTBE 提供了一种更清洁、更直接的加工方法,但其来源于
石油化工,降解性差,引起了环境问题。据报道,在裂解酶催化反应中,
2-甲基四氢呋喃(2-
MTHF)是替代
二甲基亚砜(
DMSO)或
MTBE 的理想候选物质。2-
MTHF 可从
生物资源(如
乙酰丙酸)中提取,并可被空气非
生物降解。当 BAL 添加到缓冲液-2-
MTHF(5% v/v)混合物中时,酶保持稳定,半衰期为 178 ± 8 h,生产率(
安息香合成)为 10 g benzoin Lâ1hâ1。在这些条件下,评估了几种 BAL 催化的醛羰基化反应,在所有情况下都有很高的分离产率(大部分为定量产率)和很高的对映选择性(高达 >99%)。此外,在 BAL 催化的
安息香合成中使用两相体系所获得的初步结果显示,在 24 小时内就能得到 60 克
安息香 Lâ1(ee > 99%)。因此,2-
MTHF 可能是一种有价值的(辅助)溶剂,不仅能解决环境问题,还能用于实用、高效的
生物催化。