SELECTIVE AMMONOLYSIS AND AMINOLYSIS OF DIMETHYL SUCCINATE - SYNTHESIS OF OPTICALLY-ACTIVE N-ALKYLSUCCINIMIDES

Candida antarctica lipase catalyzes the selective monoammonolysis and aminolysis of dimethyl succinate with ammonia and aliphatic amines, respectively, in dioxane as solvent. This enzyme shows a high enatioselectivity when racemic amines are used. Optically active amidoesters are also obtained in the reaction of dimethyl succinate with racemic alpha-methylalkylamines in hexane as solvent. In this medium, the enzyme catalyzes the formation of N-alkylsuccinimides or optically active N-alkyl-alpha-methylsuccinimides from dimethyl succinate or alpha-methylsuccinate and amines.