Lipase activity and enantioselectivity of whole cells from a wild-type Aspergillius flavus strain

• Whole cell lipase from A. flavus as biocatalyst showed high enantiopreference.
• (R)-1-Phenylethanol was transesterified with excellent enantiomeric ratio, E > 200.
• Ethyl laurate was obtained with high yield using A. flavus as biocatalyst.
• Regioisomeric mixture of DCPA was transesterified in moderate yield using A. flavus.

This study reports the high enantiomeric preference of whole cell lipase from Aspergillus flavus wild-type that allows the preparation of a chiral secondary alcohol. Whole cells prepared from a wild-type Aspergillus flavus strain were used as biocatalysts to prepare (R)-1-phenylethyl acetate. (R)-1-Phenylethanol was esterified into (R)-1-phenylethyl acetate with a 94.6% enantiomeric excess (ee) within 24 h at 40 °C and (S)-1-phenylethanol remained in the reaction medium with a >99%ee. Besides, this biocatalyst allows the preparation of ethyl laurate and a mixture of 2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl acrylate and 2,3-dichloro-1-propyl acrylate. The ethyl laurate yield was 96%, whereas the synthesis of a mixture of the acrylate regioisomers, 2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl acrylate and 2,3-dichloro-1-propyl acrylate gave similar yields to those obtained using commercial lipases.

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