Enzymatic regioselective acylation of nucleosides in biomass-derived 2-methyltetrahydrofuran: Kinetic study and enzyme substrate recognition

Enzymatic regioselective acylation of pyrimidine nucleosides was mediated by immobilized lipase from Penicillium expansum in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF), a bio-solvent derived from biomass. Despite of the moderate dissolution ability of MeTHF toward nucleosides, the initial enzymatic reaction rate was much higher in this eco-friendly solvent than in other commonly used organic solvents. This could be explained by the lower apparent activation energy of the enzymatic reaction (24.5 vs. 43.3–57.1 kJ/mol) and the higher catalytic efficiency of the enzyme (Vmax/Km, 5.8 vs. 1.1–2.9 h−1) in MeTHF. The enzymatic acylation of a group of ribonucleosides afforded the desirable 5′-esters with the conversions of 96–99% and 5′-regioselectivities of 96 to >99%. In enzymatic acylation of 2′-deoxynucleosides, however, 5′-regioselectivities showed a clear dependence on the 5-substituents present in the base moiety although the substrate conversions reached >98% within 1–3 h. In the cases of 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside analogs, the reaction rate decreased markedly due to the lack of 3′-hydroxyl.

► Much higher enzyme activity in MeTHF than in other organic solvents.
► Much lower apparent activation energy in this bio-solvent.
► Much higher catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km) of the enzyme in MeTHF.
► First recognition study of Penicillium expansum lipase toward pyrimidine nucleosides.