Enzymatic Desymmetrization of Prochiral 2-Substituted-1,3-Diamines: Preparation of Valuable Nitrogenated Compounds

A wide range of prochiral 1,3-diamines were first efficiently synthesized and subsequently desymmetrized by using lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia as catalyst and diallyl carbonate as alkoxycarbonylating agent. In all cases, the amino carbamates of R-configuration were recovered. Final selective cleavage of the N-allyloxycarbonyl moiety was carried out under mild reaction conditions, which demonstrates the high versatility and potential of this chemoenzymatic route as a source of intermediates in the synthesis of related optically active nitrogenated derivatives.