Evaluation of a new protocol for enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of 3-hydroxy-3-(aryl)propanoic acids.

The application of tandem metal-enzyme dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) is a powerful tool for the manufacture of high-value chemical commodities. A new protocol of kinetic resolution based on irreversible enzymatic esterification of carboxylic acids with orthoesters was introduced to obtain optically active β-hydroxy esters. This procedure was combined with metal catalyzed racemization of the target substrate providing both (R) and (S) enantiomers of ethyl 3-hydroxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propanoate with a high yield of 89% at 40 °C. A substantial influence of the enzyme type, organic co-solvent, and metal catalyst on the conversion and enantioselectivity of the enzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution was noted.