Laszlo J. Szarka

Stereoselective reduction of β-keto esters by Geotrichum candidum

Abstract A key chiral intermediate S (−)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoic acid, methyl ester 2 was made in high optical purity by the stereoselective reduction of 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoic acid methyl ester 1 by cell suspensions of Geotrichum candidum SC 5469. A reaction yield of 95% and optical purity of 96% was obtained for 2 by glucose-, acetate-, or glycerol-grown cells (10% w/v) of G. candidum SC 5469. Substrate was used at 10 mg ml −1 concentration. The optical purity of 2 was increased to 99% by heat treatment of cell suspensions (55°C for 30 min) prior to conducting bioreduction of 1 at 28°C. Glucose-grown cells of G. candidum SC 5469 have also catalyzed the stereoselective reduction of ethyl-, isopropyl-, and tertiary-butyl esters of 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoic acid and methyl- and ethyl esters of 4-bromo-3-oxobutanoic acid. A reaction yield of > 85% and optical purity of > 94% were obtained. NADP-dependent oxidoreductase responsible for the stereoselective reduction of β-keto esters of 4-chloro- and 4-bromo-3-oxobutanoic acid was purified 100-fold. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme is 950,000. The purified oxidoreductase was immobilized on Eupergit C and used to catalyze the reduction of 1 to 2. The cofactor NADP required for the reduction reaction was regenerated by glucose dehydrogenase.

Enantioselective microbial reduction of 3,5-dioxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid, ethyl ester

The key chiral intermediate 3,5-dihydroxy-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid, ethyl ester 2a, was made by the stereoselective microbial reduction of 3,5-dioxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid, ethyl ester 1. Among various microbial cultures evaluated, cell suspensions of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus SC 13876 reduced 1 to 2a. The reaction yield of 85% and optical purity of 97% was obtained using glycerol-grown cells. The substrate was used at 2 g l−1 and cells were used at 20% (w/v, wet cells) concentrations. The optimum pH for the reduction of 1 to 2a was 5.5 and the optimum temperature was 32°C. Cell extracts of A. calcoaceticus SC 13876 in the presence of NAD+, glucose, and glucose dehydrogenase reduced 1 to the corresponding monohydroxy compounds 3 and 4 [3-hydroxy-5-oxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid ethyl ester 3, and 5-hydroxy-3-oxo-6-(benzyloxy) hexanoic acid ethyl ester 4]. Both 3 and 4 were further reduced to 2a by cell extracts. Reaction yield of 92% and optical purity of 99% were obtained when the reaction was carried out in a 1-l batch using cell extracts. The substrate was used at 10 g l−1. Product 2a was isolated from the reaction mixture in 72% overall yield. The GC and HPLC area % purity of the isolated product was 99% and the optical purity was 99.5%. The reductase which converted 1 to 2a was purified about 200-fold from cell extracts of A. calcoaceticus SC 13876. The purified enzyme gave a single protein band on SDS-PAGE corresponding to 35,000 daltons.

Synthesis of allysine ethylene acetal using phenylalanine dehydrogenase from Thermoactinomyces intermedius.

Allysine ethylene acetal [(S)-2-amino-5-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)-pentanoic acid (2)] was prepared from the corresponding keto acid by reductive amination using phenylalanine dehydrogenase (PDH) from Thermoactinomyces intermedius ATCC 33205. Glutamate, alanine, and leucine dehydrogenases, and PDH from Sporosarcina species (listed in order of increasing effectiveness) also gave the desired amino acid but were less effective. The reaction requires ammonia and NADH. NAD produced during the reaction was recyled to NADH by the oxidation of formate to CO(2) using formate dehydrogenase (FDH). PDH was produced by growth of T. intermedius ATCC 33205 or by growth of recombinant Escherichia coli or Pichia pastoris expressing the Thermoactinomyces enzyme. Using heat-dried T. intermedius as a source of PDH and heat-dried Candida boidinii SC13822 as a source of FDH,98%, but production of T. intermedius could not be scaled up. Using heat-dried recombinant E. coli as a source of PDH and heat-dried Candida boidinii 98%. In a third generation process, heat-dried methanol-grown P. pastoris expressing endogenous FDH and recombinant Thermoactinomyces98% ee.

Enzymatic synthesis of L-6-hydroxynorleucine.

L-6-Hydroxynorleucine, a key chiral intermediate used for synthesis of a vasopeptidase inhibitor, was prepared in 89% yield and > 99% optical purity by reductive amination of 2-keto-6-hydroxyhexanoic acid using glutamate dehydrogenase from beef liver. In an alternate process, racemic 6-hydroxynorleucine produced by hydrolysis of 5-(4-hydroxybutyl)hydantoin was treated with D-amino acid oxidase to prepare a mixture containing 2-keto-6-hydroxyhexanoic acid and L-6-hydroxynorleucine followed by the reductive amination procedure to convert the mixture entirely to L-6-hydroxynorleucine, with yields of 91 to 97% and optical purities of > 99%.

Microbial synthesis of (2R,3S)-(−)-N-benzoyl-3-phenyl isoserine ethyl ester-a taxol side-chain synthon

Abstract The chiral intermediate (2R,3S)-(−)-N-benzoyl-3-phenyl isoserine ethyl ester 2a , a potential taxol 5 side-chain synthon, was prepared by microbial and enzymatic processes. Taxol 5 is an anticancer compound recently approved by FDA for the treatment of ovarian cancer. The stereoselective reduction of racemic 2-keto-3-(N-benzoylamino)-3-phenylpropionic acid ethyl ester 1 to the corresponding alcohol 2 was carried out using microbial cultures. Among microorganisms evaluated, Hansenula polymorpha SC 13865 and Hansenula fabianii SC 13894 effectively reduced compound 1 to the desired syn diastereomer 2a . Reaction yields of >80% and enantiomeric excesses of >98% were observed for these bioreduction process. About 10–20% of anti diastereomers ( 2c,2d ) were produced during bioreduction.

Synthesis of l-β-hydroxyvaline from α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate using leucine dehydrogenase from Bacillus species☆

Abstract α-Keto-β-bromoisovaleric acid or its ethyl ester was hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide to α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate and converted in situ to l -β-hydroxyvaline by reaction with NADH and NH3 catalyzed by leucine dehydrogenase from Bacillus species. Methyl 2-chloro-3,3-dimethyloxiranecarboxylate and the corresponding isopropyl or 1,1-dimethylethyl esters were prepared by Darzens condensation. These glycidic esters, after hydrolysis by sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide to α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate, were also converted to l -β-hydroxyvaline by leucine dehydrogenase. NAD was recycled to NADH with either formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii or glucose dehydrogenase from Bacillus megaterium. Polyethylene glycol-NADH was an effective reductant with formate dehydrogenase and dextran-NAD was effective with glucose dehydrogenase. Reductive amination activity for α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate was found in most Bacillus strains screened, including megaterium, subtilis, cereus, pumilus, licheniformis, thuringiensis, and brevis. Highest specific activity was found in B. sphaericus ATCC 4525. pH 8.5 was optimum for both glucose dehydrogenase and reductive amination of α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate by the B. sphaericus enzyme. The apparent Km for α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate was 11.5 m m compared to 1.06 m m for α-ketoisovalerate. The apparent Vmax with α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate was 41% of the value with α-ketoisovalerate, making the enzyme very suitable for the preparation of l -β-hydroxyvaline.

Stereoselective acetylation of [1-(hydroxy)-4-(3-phenyl)butyl]phosphonic acid, diethyl ester

Abstract The chiral intermediate (S) [1-(acetoxyl)-4-(3-phenyl)butyl]phosphonic acid, diethyl ester 2 was prepared for the total synthesis of a squalene synthase inhibitor, BMS-188494. The stereoselective acetylation of racemic [1-(hydroxy)-4-(3-phenyl)butyl] phosphonic acid, diethyl ester 1 was carried out in toluene using lipase from Geotrichum candidum . Isopropenyl acetate was used as an acylating agent. A reaction yield of 38% and an optical purity of 95% were obtained for chiral 2 .

Enantioselective enzymatic acetylation of racemic [4-[4α,6β (E)]]-6-[4,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,3-butadienyl]-tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-one

SummaryA chiral compound [4R-[4α,6ß(E)]]-6-[4,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,3-butadienyl]-tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-one (R-(+)-1) was prepared by the lipase-catalysed stereoselective acetylation of racemic 1 in an organic solvent. Chiral R-(+)-1 is a hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor and a potential anticholesterol drug candidate. Among various lipases evaluated, lipase PS-30 from Pseudomonas species efficiently catalysed acetylation of the undesired enantiomer of racemic 1 to yield the S-(−)-acetylated product 2 and unreacted desired R-(+)-1. A reaction yield of 48 mol% and an optical purity of 98% were obtained for R-(+)-1 when the reaction was conducted in toluence as solvent in the presence of isopropenyl acetate as acyl donor. Lipase PS-30 was immobilized on Accurel polypropylene (PP) and the immobilized enzyme was reused (five cycles) in the acetylation reaction without loss of enzyme activity, productivity, or optical purity of the R-(+)-1. The enzymatic acetylation process was scaled-up to 501 and a 640-l volume (preparative batches) at a substrate concentration of 4 g/l. R-(+)–1 was recovered from the preparative batches in 68–71% recovery yield with 98.5% gas chromatography homogeneity index and 98.5% optical purity. The S-(−) acetate 2 produced by the acetylation reaction was enzymatically hydrolysed by lipase PS-30 in a biphasic system to prepare the corresponding S-(−)-1.

Stereoselective enzymatic hydrolysis of 2-cyclohexyl-and 2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol diacetate in biphasic systems

SummaryA key intermediate (S(−) 2-cyclohexyl-1,3-propanediol monoacetate) was made with high optical purity for the total synthesis of a new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, Fosinopril. The stereoselective hydrolysis of 2-cyclohexyl-1,3-propanediol diacetate (I) and 2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol diacetate (II) was carried out with lipases. Among various lipases evaluated, only porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) and Chromobacterium viscosum lipase demonstrated efficient conversion and gave the desired enantiomer of monoacetate. In aqueous solution, the desired S(−) monoacetate exhibited an optical purity of 65%–80% (30%–60% enantiomeric excess [e.e.]). However, when the same reactions were conducted in a biphasic system, the product S(−) monoacetate exhibited an optical purity of 99%–100% (98%–100% e.e.). The high purity product was achieved with 65 mol% yield at 1% substrate concentration. Among various solvents evaluated in biphasic systems, efficient hydrolysis was achieved in toluene, cyclohexane, and trichloro-trifluoroethane. The crude PPL was partially purified and two lipase fractions (A and B) were identified. Lipases A and B had a molecular mass of 38 000 and 40 000 daltons, respectively, and both were found to catalyze the hydrolysis of I and II to the appropriate monoacetate in a biphasic system.

Biocatalytic synthesis of some chiral pharmaceutical intermediates by lipases

Chiral intermediates were prepared by biocatalytic processes for the chemical synthesis of three pharmaceutical drug candidates. These include (i) the synthesis of [(3R-cis)-3-(acetyloxy)-4-phenyl-2-azetidinone2 for the semi-synthesis of paclitaxel (taxol)5, an anticancer compound; (ii) synthesis of chiral (exo,exo)-7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2,3-dimenthanol monoacetate ester9 for the chemoenzymatic preparation of a thromboxane A2 antagonist; (iii) the enzymatic synthesis ofS-(−) 3-benzylthio-2-methylpropanoic acid, a key chiral intermediate for the synthesis of antihypertensive drugs captopril10 or zofenopril13.