Summary: | Dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) is one of the most attractive methods for enantioselective synthesis. In the reported studies, lipase B from<i> Candida antarctica</i> (CALB) immobilized on siliceous mesoporous cellular foams (MCF) functionalized with different hydrophobic groups, and two ruthenium complexes with substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands were investigated as catalysts for the chemoenzymatic DKR of (<i>rac</i>)-1-phenylethanol, using Novozym 435 as a benchmark biocatalyst. Studies on the (<i>rac</i>)-1-phenylethanol transesterification reaction showed that CALB supported on MCFs grafted with methyl groups is a promising biocatalyst and isopropenyl acetate is a preferable acylation agent. Both Ru-complexes activated by K<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> or <i>t-</i>BuOK, proved to be effective catalysts of the racemization reaction. The final DKR experiments using all catalysts combinations singled out, gave 96% conversion, and (<i>R</i>)-1-phenylethyl acetate enantiomeric excess of 98% in 8 h using K<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> activator.
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