Lipase-mediated epoxidation of alkenes in supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract

In this work, supercritical carbon dioxide was used as reaction media in the lipase-mediated epoxidation of alkenes for the first time. Under the optimal conditions (alkene (1 mmol), novozym 435 (15 mg), H2 O2 (50% aqueous solution, 1.4 mmol), n-caprylic acid (0.05 mmol), 40°C, scCO2 (10 MPa, 25 mL)), high yields (83–98%) of epoxidation of alkenes could be obtained in a short reaction time. Furthermore, novozym 435 exhibited a satisfactory reusability in the epoxidations. Thus, this work not only presents a green and mild method of lipase-mediated epoxidation with higher yield and reaction rate than other lipase-mediated routes ever reported but also expands the application of supercritical carbon dioxide in enzyme catalytic promiscuity.