No abstract

The lipase-catalysed optical resolution of a racemic mixture of 2-methyl-1-pentanol by transesterification using vinyl acetate as acyl donor has been studied experimentally. A mechanistic model has been developed for the double-substrate reaction sequence treating both enantiomers as competing substrates. The model is based upon a ping-pong mechanism with alternative substrates involving an acyl-enzyme intermediate. The kinetic constants of the model have been evaluated using initial rate experiments and nonlinear regression analysis. The model successfully predicts the evolution of the enantiomeric excess of substrate (eeR) and the degree of conversion with time for batch experiments with various initial concentrations of vinyl acetate and (R,S)-2-methyl-l-pentanol. Furthermore, the rate equations have been used to theoretically study the dynamic progression of a continuous enzyme-catalysed resolution process. The enantiomeric excess as a function of conversion for different process configurations is discussed. It is found, that the maximum attainable eeR is strongly dependent on the residence time distribution of the continuous reactor and is rather low for a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) due to competitive inhibition effects.KEY WORDS Enzyme kinetics, mathematical modelling, optical resolution, lipase, 2-methyl-lpentanol. LIST OF SYMBOLS

No abstract

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemates is a popular method for synthesis of chiral synthons. Most of these resolutions are reversible equilibrium limited reactions. For the first time, an extensive kinetic model is proposed for kinetic resolution reactions, which takes into account the full reversibility of the reaction, substrate inhibition by an acyl donor and an acyl acceptor as well as alternative substrate inhibition by each enantiomer. For this purpose, the reversible enantioselective transesterification of (R/S)-1-methoxy-2-propanol with ethyl acetate catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) is investigated. The detailed model presented here is valid for a wide range of substrate and product concentrations. Following model discrimination and the application of Haldane equations to reduce the degree of freedom in parameter estimation, the 11 free parameters are successfully identified. All parameters are fitted to the complete data set simultaneously. Six types of independent initial rate studies provide a solid data basis for the model. The effect of changes in substrate and product concentration on reaction kinetics is discussed. The developed model is used for simulations to study the behavior of reaction kinetics in a fixed bed reactor. The typical plot of enantiomeric excess versus conversion of substrate and product is evaluated at various initial substrate mixtures. The model is validated by comparison with experimental results obtained with a fixed bed reactor, which is part of a fully automated state-of-the-art miniplant.