The immobilization of Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL) on pristine or functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was studied in the resolution of (RS)-1-phenylethanol. For the functionalization, three treatments were used, these being in H2SO4/HNO3 (acid, MWCNTs-A), KOH (basic, MWCNTs-B) or in H2O2 (oxidizing agent, MWCNTs-O). It was found that the pristine or functionalized BCL/MWCNTs resulted in a 3-fold improvement in the conversion and in a 5-fold improvement in ees (enantiomeric excess of the substrate), when compared with free BCL under the same reaction conditions. This pristine or functionalized BCL/MWCNTs system could be reused for up to 8 times without significant decrease in the catalytic efficiency. Under the optimum conditions (pH of immobilization 6.0, 45 ºC and 25 mg/5 mg pristine or functionalized BCL/MWCNTs), the best results were obtained using BCL immobilized on MWCNTs-A. The simple process of physical adsorption of BCL onto MWCNTs-A has improved the catalytic efficiency when compared with free BCL and an increase in the stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

The per-O-acetylation of D-ribono-1,4-lactone and representative carbohydrates through the combination of acetic anhydride and molecular sieves under solvent-free conditions is demonstrated. The use of 13X/KCl molecular sieves as the heterogeneous catalyst was found to be more efficient than the excess of pyridine normally employed in the conventional method, giving high yields of the expected peracetylated product after 3 h at 25 ºC or 1 h at 50 ºC. The transformation can be carried out in gram scale and in an open flask. Additionally, the catalyst is readily separated from the reaction medium and can be reutilized without significant loss of activity. This green procedure for acetylation was extended to D-ribonolactone derivatives and natural carbohydrates. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of the method, 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-D-ribonolactone was selected as the substrate for the regioselective alcoholysis of acetyl group catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B in EtOH to selectively produce 2,3-di-O-acetyl-D-ribonolactone in gram scale.

A síntese dos ácidos 5,6-metilenodioxi-indol-3-il-metanóico 8 e 5,6-metilenodioxi-indol-3-il-acético 13 é descrita. Piperonal foi empregado como material de partida, sendo a construção do heterociclo altamente regioespecífica e está fundamentada na reação de Hemetsberger do correspondente beta-azidoestireno. O composto 8 foi obtido como intermediário pivotal na preparação de 13, tendo-se conduzida a reação de Mannich para a introdução da cadeia lateral alquílica. A rota sintética empregada englobou oito etapas e conduziu a formação de 13 com rendimento total de 26%. A formação do heterociclo indólico via ciclização redutiva de o,beta-dinitroestireno é também apresentada.

The synthesis of 5,6-methylenedioxy-indol-3-yl-methanoic acid 8 and 5,6-methylenedioxy-indol-3-yl-acetic acid 13 is described. Piperonal was employed as starting material, and the construction of the heterocyclic ring based on the Hemetsberger reaction of the corresponding beta-azidostyrene was highly regiospecific. Compound 8 was obtained as a key intermediate towards 13, and a Mannich reaction was used to introduce the required alkyl side chain. The route comprised eight steps giving 13 in 26% overall yield. The formation of the indolic ring via reductive cyclisation of o,beta-dinitrostyrene is also presented.