Dynamic Kinetic Resolution via Hydrolase‐Metal Combo Catalysis in Stereoselective Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds

The development of new and more economically and environmentally attractive processes to afford chiral molecules is still an open challenge in organic synthesis. During last years the combination of an enzyme‐catalyzed kinetic resolution (KR) with the in situ transition metal mediated‐racemization of the unreacted enantiomer in a dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) has received great attention in the preparation of enantiomerically pure compounds, as this methodology allows one to achieve very high conversions and enantiomeric excesses. Several transition metal complexes have been found to be compatible with enzymatic catalysts and highly successful DKR processes of functionalized alcohols and amines have been developed. Those chemicals are valuable building blocks for the further production of many pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. The aim of this review is to update the advances developed during the past decade related to the coupling of enzymes and transition metal catalysts in DKR processes, focusing on the application of this innovative technique in the synthetic route of biologically active compounds.