Porcine Liver Esterase Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of Baylis-Hillman (B-H) Adducts

Abstract

Abstract Esterase from porcine liver smoothly resolves varieties of racemic 2-methylene-3-substituted-3-hydroxypropanoates (B-H adducts) to obtain the corresponding unreacted esters in very good to excellent ee (94 to >99%, seven examples) and hydrolyzed acids in good ee (58–75%). Substitution in B-H adducts, chosen for resolution, are funtionalized phenyl, thiophen-3-yl, cinnamyl, and alkyl groups.