Efficient Lipase-Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution and Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of β-Hydroxy Nitriles. Correction of Absolute Configuration and Transformation to Chiral β-Hydroxy Acids and γ-Amino Alcohols

Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of β-hydroxy nitriles 1 has been carried out using Candida antarctica lipase B and a ruthenium catalyst. The use of a hydrogen source to depress ketone formation in the dynamic kinetic resolution yields the corresponding acetates 2 in good yield and high enantioselectivity. It is shown that the ruthenium catalyst and the enzyme can be recycled when used in separate reactions. We also report on the preparation of various enantiomerically pure β-hydroxy acid derivatives and γ-amino alcohols from 1 and 2. The latter compounds were also used to establish the correct absolute configuration of 1 and 2.