Chemoenzymatic synthesis of chiral 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine derivatives

Abstract

—Chiral 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine derivatives have been prepared through a chemoenzymatic synthesis where the enzymatic kinetic resolution of a family of 4-chloro-2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)pyridines is the key step for the formation of potentially important chiral catalysts. Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PSL) showed excellent enantioselectivity in the acylation of the (R)-enantiomers (E > 200) using vinyl acetate as acylating agent and THF as solvent, obtaining products and substrates enantiomerically pure and with excellent yields.