Enantioselective esterification of ibuprofen with ethanol as reactant and solvent catalyzed by immobilized lipase: experimental and molecular modeling aspects
✍ Scribed by María L. Foresti; Marianela Galle; María L. Ferreira; Laura E. Briand
- Publisher
- Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 223 KB
- Volume
- 84
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0268-2575
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In recent years enantioselective esterification of racemic ibuprofen performed in organic co‐solvent media such as isooctane and cyclohexane and catalyzed by lipases, has been proposed as an effective way to increase the concentration of S‐ibuprofen in the racemic mixture. In this contribution, the enantioselective enzymatic esterification of (R,S)‐ibuprofen with ethanol catalyzed by commercial Novozym 435 without the addition of a co‐solvent is thoroughly investigated. Experimental data are further analyzed considering the results of extensive molecular modeling calculations.
RESULTS: The conversion of ibuprofen towards the ethyl esters and the enantiomeric excess towards S‐ibuprofen are greatly affected by the ethanol and water contents of the reaction media. The optimum conditions for the esterification of racemic ibuprofen in a batch‐type reactor were as follows: molar ratio of ethanol to ibuprofen = 7, 4.8% v/v of water, 160 mg of Novozym 435, 45 °C and 200 rpm. Under these conditions an enantiomeric excess of 54% and 63% of ibuprofen conversion were reached.
CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that the reaction in excess of the esterifying alcohol in a system free of additional organic solvents is possible if the proper conditions are set. Molecular modeling calculations demonstrated that the formation of dead‐end compounds between the enzyme and ethanol/water may account for lipase inhibition at high concentrations of those compounds. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry