| abstract |
An enzymatic method for the preparation of (2S,3S)-threo-alkyl-2-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2-X-phenylthio)propionate, where X=NO2, NH2, NHCOCH3, NHCOCF3, NHCO2CH3, NHCO2C(CH3)3 or NHCHO and R is an alkyl group, e.g., CH3, or CH2CH3 in an essentially anhydrous organic solvent is described. In this method a lipase which stereospecifically acylates the (2R,3R)-enantiomer of the racemic mixture is used. After enzymatic reaction, the (2S,3S)-enantiomer and the acylated (2R,3R)-compound are separated, e.g., by flash-chromatography or by fraction crystallization of the (2S,3S)-compound from the reaction mixture. |