Serap Sahin

Lipase-catalyzed acylation in a continuous down-flow fixed-bed reactor

The kinetic resolution of racemic 1-phenylethanol with ethyl acetate was investigated in a down-flow fixed-bed reactor operated in a continuous mode mainly at the molar ratio of 1: 3 in 400 mL toluene at 70°C. The catalytic activity of the immobilized lipase was studied by: (i) changing the flow rates, (ii) utilizing different substrate concentrations, (iii) applying step changes using ethyl acetate, ethyl benzene, acetic acid, acetophenone etc., (iv) investigating the inhibitory effect of either the desired or the stoichiometric products (R)-1-phenylethyl acetate and ethanol, respectively), (v) elucidating the effect of water on the activity and stability of the immobilized lipase. The residence time distribution and the reactor hydrodynamics were also discussed along with kinetic modelling. The results were linked to the one-pot reactions.

Effect of the carbon nanotube basicity in Pd/N-CNT catalysts on the synthesis of R-1-phenyl ethyl acetate

Abstract Catalytic activities of palladium catalysts supported on activated carbon and carbon nanotubes were investigated in the one-pot synthesis of R -1-phenylethyl acetate in combination with an immobilized lipase in toluene. Palladium catalysts on carbon nanotubes with nitrogen-containing surface groups were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The basic N-CNT support was synthesized by post-treating oxidized CNTs in gaseous NH 3 at high temperature, prior to Pd addition. The basic character of the support was adjusted by controlling the temperature of the post-treatment step. The results showed that the desired product yield was enhanced over palladium catalysts with the lowest basicity.

Mechanistic investigations of the reaction network in chemo-bio catalyzed synthesis of R-1-phenylethyl acetate

The kinetics and reaction network of the one-pot synthesis of R-1-phenylethyl acetate was investigated at 70°C in toluene over a combination of three different catalysts: PdZn/Al2O3 as a catalyst for acetophenone hydrogenation, lipase as an enzymatic catalyst for R-1-phenylethanol acylation with ethyl acetate and Ru/Al2O3 as a racemization catalyst for S-1-phenylethanol. In addition to the desired reactions, other reactions, namely hydrogenolysis and dehydration of (R, S)-1-phenylethanol and debenzylation of (R, S)-1-phenylethyl acetate also occurred. The kinetic results revealed that ethylbenzene formation was enhanced with higher amounts of PdZn/Al2O3, whereas lipase did not catalyze ethylbenzene formation. Furthermore, ethylbenzene was formed in the hydrogenolysis of (R, S)-phenylethanol and in the debenzylation of (R, S)-1-phenyl-ethylacetate over Pd/Al2O3 catalyst. The presence of Ru/Al2O3 catalyst, in which Ru was in the oxidation state of 3+, enhanced the formation of R-1-phenylethyl acetate, although no clear racemization of S-1-phenylethanol during the one-pot synthesis of R-1-phenylethyl acetate was observed. Dynamic kinetic resolution of (R, S)-1-phenylethanol in toluene, was, however, demonstrated over Ru/Al2O3 and lipase.