Lipase-catalyzed practical synthesis of (R)-1-benzyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-pyrrolidinedione and its related compounds

A practical method for preparing (R)-1-benzyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-pyrrolidinedione (1) was investigated by the use of the enzymatic hydrolysis of its acetate (2a). Among several hydrolases examined here, lipase PS from Pseudomonas cepacia gave the best result: In a mixed solvent (1:1 v/v) of dioxane and a phosphate buffer (pH 7), the hydrolysis took place smoothly with a high enantioselectivity (E > 3000). Several 3-alkanoyl derivatives of 1 were subjected to the lipase PS-catalyzed hydrolysis. The chain length of the alkanoyl does not noticeably influence the reaction rate or the enantioselectivity. In contrast, the hydrolysis of the l-benzoyl derivative proceeded slowly with a low enantioselectivity (E = 19). The syntheses of optically active 3-hydroxypyrrolidines and 3-hydroxypiperidines were also achieved under the reaction conditions similar to the lipase PS-catalyzed hydrolysis of 2a.