Candida rugosa lipase-catalysed kinetic resolution of 2-substituted-aryloxyacetic esters with dimethylsulfoxide and isopropanol as additives.

Candida rugosa lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of three different 2-substituted-aryloxyacetic esters was performed in aqueous buffer containing dimethyl sulphoxide and isopropanol from 0 to 80% v/v as additives, in order to obtain an enhancement of the enantioselectivity. For 2-(p-chlorophenoxy)acetic acid and 2-n-butyl-2-(p-chlorophenoxy)acetic acid ethyl esters, DMSO enhanced enzyme enantioselectivity more than IPA with an opposite enzymatic enantiopreference. The cosolvents moderately improved Candida rugosa lipase enantioselectivity for 2-phenyl-2-(p-chlorophenoxy)acetic acid ethyl ester.