Lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution of 1-O-alkylglycerols by sequential transesterification

Arnar Halldorsson, Pall Thordarson, Bjorn Kristinsson, Carlos D. Magnusson, Gudmundur G. Haraldsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The natural S-configured chimyl, batyl and selachyl alcohols of the 1-O-alkylglycerol type were prepared by enantioselective lipase-catalysed transesterification. Their racemates were synthesised in two steps by reacting racemic solketal with the bromides of the corresponding fatty alcohols and a subsequent conversion of the intermediates into the 1-O-alkylglycerols by deprotection under acidic aqueous conditions. The Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase was employed to kinetically resolve the racemic 1-O-alkylglycerols by a sequential diacetylation process to afford them virtually enantiomerically pure. Dramatic enantioselectivity increase was observed for the saturated chimyl (E = 17-32) and batyl (E = 14-38) alcohols at decreased temperature, whereas for the monounsaturated selachyl (E = 12-13) alcohol no such temperature effects were observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2893-2899
Number of pages7
JournalTetrahedron Asymmetry
Volume15
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Sept 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: The University of Iceland Research Fund is acknowledged for financial support, Dr. Sigridur Jonsdottir at the Science Institute for running the NMR analysis, Dr. Sigurdur V. Smarason at deCode Genetics for performing the mass spectrometry analysis, and Svana Stefansdottir at the University of Iceland for elemental analysis.

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