Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-1-trimethylsilyl-ethanol with immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in water/organic solvent biphasic system was studied. The effects of shake speed, hydrophobicity of organic solvent, volume ratio of water phase to organic phase, pH value of aqueous phase and reaction temperature on the initial reaction rate, maximum yield and enantiomeric excess (ee) of the product were systematically explored. All the above-mentioned factors had significant influence on the reaction. n-Hexane was found to be the best organic solvent for the reaction. The optimum shake speed, volume ratio of water phase to organic phase, pH value and reaction temperature were 150 r.min-1, 1/2, 8 and 30 ℃ respectively, under which the maximum yield and enantiomeric excess of the product were as high as 96.8% and 95.7%, which are 15% and 16% higher than those of the corresponding reaction performed in aqueous phase. To our best knowledge, this is the most satisfactory result obtained.
The enantioselective esterification of racemic 1-trimethylsilylethanol with acids catalyzed by lipase in organic solvent was successfully performed. The influence of some factors on the reaction was investigated. Among the four lipases explored, Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) showed the highest activity and enantioselectivity. Octanoic acid was the best acyl donor among the eleven acids studied and n-hexane was the most suitable medium for the reaction. The optimum shaking rate and temperature were found to be 150r·min-1 and 20℃ to 30℃, respectively. The enantiomeric excess of the remaining (5)-(-)-1-trimethylsilylethanol was 93% when substrate conversion was 53% upon incubation of the reaction mixture at 30℃, 150r·min-1 for 12 h.
