Non-conventional hydrolase chemistry: Amide and carbamate bond formation catalyzed by lipases

Biocatalysis in nonaqueous media is becoming increasingly important in organic synthesis. Lipases are the most used enzymes, especially in transesterification reactions. However, in the last years the amidation reaction catalyzed by lipases has also been shown to be a useful tool for the organic chemists. In this review, we discuss the possibilities of the enzymatic aminolysis and ammonolysis reactions for the preparation of different amides and for the resolution of esters, amines and aminoalcohols. The enzymatic alkoxycarbonylation of amines opens a new way for the synthesis of chiral carbamates. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.