Biocatalysis applied to chemoselective transformations on Vitamin D and nucleoside derivatives

Vitamin D-3 and 2'-deoxynucleosides are compounds of special relevance in some areas of medicinal chemistry. On the other hand, some derivatives of these compounds have shown new and important physiological properties. Biotransformations are a tool of great utility to carry out selective modifications on these compounds in very mild conditions. In this account, we report the preparation of new analogues of Vitamin D and deoxynucleosides derivatives through a combination between biocatalysis and chemical catalysis. The key step is the regioselective enzymatic acylation, and specialty alkoxycarborylation using lipases in organic solvents. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.