Method of separating optical isomers of a protected aminoacid The present invention relates to a method of enzy- matically separating optical isomers of a protected aminoacid chosen from the group of protected natural and non-natural aminoacids , wherein an enzyme is contacted with a mixture comprising R and S isomers of the protected aminoacid to be separated . Separation of optical isomers is an important procedure in industrial synthesis of aminoacids . Low cost and optical purity (enantiomeric excess ) are important parameters . For this reason , enzymes are used because of their selectivity . To keep cost down, it is generally preferred not to use pure enzyme but rather enzyme preparations . The obj ective of the present invention is to provide a method according to the preambule, allowing the separation at low cost and excellent optical purity ( e . e ) . To this end, the present invention is characterized in that the protected aminoacid is a (non-sidechain- carboxyl ) -protected aminoacid having the general formula ( I ) HR1N-CR2- (CH ) n-C (0) ZR3 I wherein - R1 is an amino-protective group or hydrogen; - R2 is a side chain; - n is a number chosen from 0, 1, and 2; - ZR3 is a carboxy-protective group where Z is chosen from 0 or NH; and R1 and R3 may be integrated, forming a heterocy- clic (non-sidechain-carboxyl) -protected ring, the ring backbone comprising 5 to 8 atoms; the (non-sidechain-carboxyl) -protected aminoacid having a molecular weight of less than 1000 Dalton, said method comprising the steps of - contacting the (non-sidechain-carboxyl) -protected aminoacid (I) in the presence of water with an optionally partially purified cell-free extract of a fungus containing an enzyme having at least one of an esterase and amidase activity
yielding a mixture of (non-sidechain carboxyl) deprotected product and starting material; and optionally separating the (non-sidechain carboxyl) deprotected product and starting material. The (non-sidechain carboxy) deprotected product carries the now free carboxylgroup. The examples below demonstrate the excellent results obtained with the method according to the invention. In the present application, the term 'enzymatically separating' is to be understood to increase the number and/or magnitude of properties in which the enzymatically converted product and starting material differ. That is, a physical separation in terms of space is not a requirement, as this may occur later, for example in case of synthesis. According to a preferred embodiment, a preferred set of substrates having the formula (I) , are characterized in that R3, with Z is O, represents a group chosen from the set consisting of a branched or unbranched (Cι-C4) alkylgroup, a phenylgroup, and an (Cι-C4) alkylphenylgroup; each of which may be substituted or not with one or more of halogen atoms, car- boxy, hydroxy and aminogroup. According to a highly preferred embodiment, if Z. is NH, R3 is as defined above, or hydrogen. The nature of the side chain R2 is believed to be of no particular relevance for the enzymatic reaction. However, small substrates having the formula (I) will be preferred because they allow a rapid turn-over and are suitable building blocks for synthesis. Hence, according to an advantageous embodiment, the molecular weight of the (non-sidechain- carboxyl) -protected aminoacid (I) is less than 500. Preferrably, the enzyme is derived from Aspergillus sp., preferably chosen from Aspergillus melleus and Aspergillus oryzae. According to a favourable embodiment, the (non- sidechain-carboxyl) -protected aminoacid is chosen from a hy- dantoin derivative and diketopiperazine derivative. These substrates according to the general formula (I) were found to be excellent substrates.
Finally, according to a preferred embodiment, the enzyme is immobilized, and more preferrably comprised in a CLEA. A CLEA is a cross-linked enzyme aggregate. This pro- vides a cost-effective solution, allowing easy separation of the biocatalytic CLEA and the solution in which the separation is performed. The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following examples. In the examples, use is made of a crude enzyme preparation from Aspergillus, said enzyme preparation having an aminoacylase activity and available from Fluka. This preparation also contains an hydrolase activity exploited in the present invention, more specifically an esterase and/or an amidase activity. Immobilization of enzyme was performed by making a CLEA, according to standard procedures (Cao L. et al, Org. Lett. 2, pp. 1361-1364, (2000) ) .
Example 1. Enantioselective hydrolysis of D,L-phenylglycine amide (PGA).
A 10 m solution of D, L-phenylglycine amide (D,L- PGA) was prepared in 5 ml of 50 mM TRIS buffer pH 7.5. Enzymatic reaction was started by addition of 50 U of A inoa- cylase I from Aspergillus melleus (Fluka, 1.3U/mg) and performed at permanent stirring at room temperature. Periodically, samples were taken, diluted by eluent in order to stop enzymatic reaction and subjected to chiral HPLC analysis (Crownpack CR+, pH 2, 25°C) . After 4 hours reaction reached 50.6% conversion, and further hydrolysis was negligible (51% after 18 hours) . Optical purity of remaining D-phenylglycine amide was 99+%, optical purity of converted L-phenylglycine was 99%.
Example 2.
Enantioselective hydrolysis of D,L-amino acids amides.
In all cases, a 10 mM solution of appropriate D,L- ~
amino acid amide was prepared in 5 ml of 50 mM TRIS buffer pH 7.5. Enzymatic reaction was started by addition of 50 U of Aminoacylase I from Aspergillus melleus (Fluka, 1.3U/mg) and performed at permanent stirring at room temperature. Periodically, samples were taken, diluted by eluent in order to stop enzymatic reaction and subjected to chiral HPLC analysis (Crownpack CR+) . The optical purity of remaining D-α-amino acid amide was determined after reaching of about 50% conversion.
Preferred Con . e. e . ε Entry Substrate configurat (%) (S) xoπ
D,L-leucine 50.2 97.8 320 amide
D, L-p-hydroxy- 50.1 >99 >300 phenylglycine amide
D, L-homo- 48.2 90.7 240 phenylalanine
D,L-2- aminobutyric L 49.2 96.3 >300 acid amide
Example 3.
Enantioselective hydrolysis of D,L-2-aminobutyric acid ethyl ester.
D,L-2-aminobutyric acid ethyl ester (ABAE) was prepared by esterification of D, L-2-aminobutyric acid (D,L-ABA, obtained from ACROS) in ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid. The excess of ethanol was evaporated under reduced
pressure. The obtained D,L-ABAE sulfuric salt (24 mmol) was dissolved in 100 ml water and pH was adjusted to 6.7 using NaOH. The reaction was started by adding 1 g of Aminoacylase I from Aspergillus melleus (Fluka, 1.3U/mg) and was performed at the room temperature, at continuous stirring and automated pH-control. Periodically, samples were taken and subjected to chiral HPLC analysis (Crownpack CR+) . After four hours the pH was increased to the 8.0 and reaction mixture was 3 times ex- tracted by ethyl acetate. After evaporization of the ethyl acetate layer 1.38 g D-ABAE with optical purity of 98 % was obtained (10.5 mmol, 88% of theoretical yield). The water layer contained 0.1 M (0.9 g) of L-ABA with optical purity of 94 % (8.7 mmol, 73% of theoretical yield). The isolated D-ABAE was then hydrolyzed in the presence of hydrochloric acid (pH 0.5, 100°C) . The water was evaporated and the crude product was washed with a TBME/ 2- propanol mixture, yielding 1 gram of D-ABA hydrochloric acid salt (7.1 mmol, 59% of theoretical yield). The product had 99+% chemical purity and 98+% optical purity and [α.D20 = -15 (c=l, 2.5M HC1)
Example 4.
Enantioselective hydrolysis of D, L- _amino acid esters .
In all cases, 10 mM of appropriate D, L- ~amino acid ester was dissolved in 5 ml of 50 mM TRIS buffer pH 6. 5. Enzymatic reaction was started by addition of 50 U of Aminoacylase I from Aspergillus melleus ( Fluka, 1. 3U/mg) and per- formed at permanent stirring at room temperature . Periodically, samples were taken, diluted by eluent in order to stop enzymatic reaction and subjected to chiral HPLC analysis (Crownpack CR+) . Optical purity of remaining D-α-amino acid ester was determined after achieving of about 50% conversion .
Entry Substrate Preferred Conv. e.e E configurati (%) (S) on
1 D,L-2- 53 98 65 aminobutyric L acid ethyl ester
2 D,L-2- 53 92 33 aminobutyric L acid methyl ester D, L-p-hydroxy-
3 phenylglycine L 56 87 15 methyl ester 4 D,L-tyrosine L 51 82 21 ethyl ester
Examp e 5.
Enantioselective hydrolysis of D,L-2-aminobutyric acid ethyl ester by immobilized Aminoacylase I.
10 ml of a solution of 10 mM D,L-2-aminobutyric acid ethyl ester (D,L-ABAE) was prepared in 50 mM TRIS buffer at pH 6.7. The enzymatic reaction was started by addition of 100 mg of immobilized Aminoacylase I from Aspergillus (Fluka, 388 U/g) and performed at permanent stirring and room temperature. Periodically, samples were taken and subjected to chiral HPLC analysis (Crownpack CR+) . After 6 hours reaction reached 49% conversion. Optical purity of remaining D-ABAE was 90%, the optical purity of 2-aminobutyric acid was 94% (L) .
Example 6.
Enantioselective hydrolysis of D,L-beta-phenylalanine ethyl ester. A 10 mM solution of D,L-beta-phenylalanine ethyl ester was prepared in 5 ml of 50 mM TRIS buffer at pH 7.5. Enzymatic reaction was started by addition of 50 ϋ of Aminoa-
cylase I from Aspergillus melleus (Fluka, 1.3U/mg) and performed at permanent stirring at room temperature. Periodically, samples were taken, diluted by eluent in order to stop enzymatic reaction and subjected to chiral HPLC analysis (Crownpack CR+, pH 2, 25 C) . After 8 hours reaction reached 46% conversion. Optical purity of remaining D- beta- phenylalanine ethyl ester was 81% (E = 100) .