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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