Dynamic kinetic resolution of primary amines with a recyclable Pd nanocatalyst for racemization

Abstract

A practical procedure for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of primary amines has been developed. This procedure employs a palladium nanocatalyst as the racemization catalyst, a commercial lipase (Novozym-435) as the resolution catalyst, and ethyl acetate or ethyl methoxyacetate as the acyl donor. Eleven primary amines and one amino acid amide have been efficiently resolved with good yields (85-99%) and high enantiomeric excesses (97-99%).