Enantioselective esterification of (R,S)-2-methylalkanoic acid with Carica papaya lipase in organic solvents

Isooctane was the best reaction medium for the enantioselective esterification of (R,S)-2-methyl-alkanoic acid with n-butanol using Carica papaya lipase as catalyst. Increasing linear alkyl-chain length of racemic 2-methylalkanoic acids from ethyl to hexyl increased the enantioselectivity (E) from 2.1 to 98.2 for the esterification of racemic 2-methylalkanoic acids with n-butanol at 35 degrees C. Decreasing reaction temperature from 40 to 20 degrees C increased the enantioselectivity (E) from 14 to 33 for the esterification of racemic 2-methylhexanoic acids with n-butanol. We obtained a maximum enantioselectivity, of E = 24.3, for the enantioselective esterification of racemic 2-methylhexanoic acids with n-butanol in isooctane at water activity 0.33, and at 35 degrees C.