A biocatalytic cascade process was developed using immobilized cells of the wild type yeast Candida albicans CCT 0776 in calcium alginate beads and a commercially available ketoreductase. The aim was to promote deracemization by stereoinversion of (±)-1-arylethanols in high substrate concentration (above 100 mmol L-1) to prepare the (R)-enantiomers of the alcohols (90-99%), with a high enantiomeric excess (83-99%) after 2 to 19 h. The (R)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethanol, with 70% yield and 91% ee, obtained after 5 h was used to prepare (S)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-ethylamine with 60% yield and 91% ee after two steps, a key intermediate in the synthesis of (S)-rivastigmine.

Neste trabalho relatamos o uso de nitratos de lantanídeos [Ln(NO3)3] atuando como catalisador na síntese de uma única etapa de derivados de 3-benzoíla- e 3-acetila-1,2,4-oxadiazóis a partir de cetonas, nitrilas e ácido nítrico. Este é o primeiro exemplo da síntese em única etapa de preparação de derivados benzoíla e acetila-1,2,4-oxadiazóis, usando acetofenonas com grupos doadores de elétrons.

In this work we report the use of lanthanide nitrates [Ln(NO3)3] acting as catalyst in direct one-pot synthesis of 3-benzoyl- and 3-acetyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles derivatives from ketones, nitriles and nitric acid. This is the first example of one-pot synthesis of benzoyl- and acetyl 1,2,4-oxadiazoles derivatives preparation using acetophenones derivates with electron-donator groups.

Condensações de Knoevenagel de aldeídos aromáticos com 4-cloro-3-oxobutanoato de etila catalisadas por morfolina/ácido acético foram conduzidas em líquidos iônicos para fornecerem 2-cloroacetil-3-arilpropenoatos de etila em 44 a 84% de rendimentos após 0,5 a 2 h à temperatura ambiente (25-28 ºC). Estas condições representam um protocolo mais verde para a condensação de Knoevenagel do que aquelas realizadas com refluxo de benzeno e tolueno, utilizados como solventes. Aldeídos aromáticos contendo grupos arila, 4-clorofenila, 4-metoxifenila, 2-tiofuranila, 2-furanila, fenila e 3,4-metilenodioxifenila apresentaram razões diastereoméricas (E)/(Z) de 56/44 a 85/15. A estrutura do isômero-(E) do 2-cloroacetil-3-(3',4'-metilenodioxifenil)propenoato de etila foi determinada por difração de raio X, e uma metodologia inequívoca da análise estrutural-(E)/(Z) por RMN de 13C (ressonância magnética nuclear) é apresentada.

Knoevenagel condensations of aromatic aldehydes with ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate catalyzed by morpholine/acetic acid were carried out in ionic liquids to give ethyl 2-chloroacetyl-3-arylpropenoates in 44-84% yield after 0.5 to 2 h at room temperature (25-28 ºC). These conditions represent a greener protocol for the Knoevenagel condensation than those using refluxing benzene or toluene as solvent. Aromatic aldehydes having aryl groups 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 2-thiofuranyl, 2-furanyl, phenyl and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl gave (E)/(Z) diastereomeric ratios of products from 56/44 to 85/15. The two isomers of each compound were separately isolated and characterized. The structure of the (E)-isomer of ethyl 2-chloroacetyl-3-(3',4' methylenedioxyphenyl)propenoate was determined by X-ray crystallography and an unequivocal methodology of (E)/(Z)-structural analysis by 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) is presented.

Baker's yeast has been successful employed to reduce carbonyl compounds carrying appropriated substituents at distances under the electronic influence of the keto group. High yields and enantiomeric excess (ee) were obtained with 1,2-alkanedione, 1,2-alkanedione (2-O-methyloxime) and 1,3-alkanedione. Potential chiral building blocks were obtained and applied for stereoselective synthesis of valuable compounds. Evidence for a free radical chain process was obtained with baker's yeast reduction of a-iodoacetophenone using radical inhibitors.

The work here presented was based on 4th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Biotransformations "BIOTRANS '99" held in Giardini - Naxos, Italy, from september 26 to October 1, 1999. Some of the lectures presented during the congress will be comented which exemplifies the technological inovations and the actual tendencies in the area of biocatalysis.