Optimization of chiral resolution of (+/-)-1-phenylethanol by statistical methods

Abstract

Optically active 1-phenylethanol is used as a chiral building block and synthetic intermediate in pharmaceutical and fine-chemical industries. Lipase - catalyzed kinetic resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol with vinyl acetate as an acyl donor and Candida antarctica immobilized lipase as a biocatalyst in a batch reactor was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Four-factor-five-level central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed to evaluate the effect of synthesis parameters such as speed of agitation, enzyme loading, temperature and acyl donor/alcohol molar ratio, on conversion, enantiomeric excess (ee), enantioselectivity and initial rate. Optimum reaction conditions obtained were; mole ratio of acyl donor: ester of 2:1, temperature of 42.5 °C, catalyst loading of 1.6x10^-3 g.cm^-3 and speed of agitation of 336 rpm. Analysis of variance was performed to determine significantly affecting variables and interactions between the process parameters.