Continuous-Flow Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Alcohols by Lipase–Oxovanadium Cocatalysis

Abstract

A continuous-flow dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols was carried out using a single column reactor packed with a mixture of immobilized lipase and an immobilized oxovanadium species, VMPS4. As a result, optically pure esters were produced in 88–92 % yields. Problems encountered in this study were overcome by using fillers that efficiently maintained the initial distribution of the catalysts in the reactor and by using a packing method in which the mixing ratio of the two catalysts was varied in a stepwise fashion. The flow process led to an increased turnover number of each catalyst compared to those of batch reactions.