Enzymatic kinetic resolution of sec-alcohols using an ionic liquid anhydride as acylating agent

A task-specific ionic liquid bearing an anhydride moiety was synthesized for the first time in good yield (83%) through a carbodiimide-mediated coupling reaction. The enantiomeric separation of a series of sec-alcohols was performed via enzymatic kinetic resolution, employing an ionic anhydride as acylating agent and Candidaantarctica Lipase B as a biocatalyst. A fast and efficient recovery of both enantiomers was achieved separately due to the ionic nature of the acyl donor, combined with the possibility of carrying out the enzymatic step in an organic solvent.

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