DIASTEREOSELECTIVITY (ENANTIOSELECTIVITY) OF ALDOL CONDENSATIONS CATALYZED BY RABBIT MUSCLE ALDOLASE AT C-2 OF RCHOHCHO IF R HAS AN APPROPRIATELY PLACED NEGATIVELY CHARGED GROUP

D-Fructose 1,6-bis(phosphate) aldolase from rabbit muscle (RAMA, E.C. 4.1.2.13) catalyzes the aldol condensation between dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and various aldehydes; the products are ketosugars with 3(S),4(R) stereochemistry. When racemic alpha-hydroxy aldehydes are condensed with DHAP, two diastereomeric products are formed. This paper demonstrates that RAMA can kinetically resolve alpha-hydroxy aldehydes with a negative charge removed four or five atoms from the aldehydic center. Kinetic resolution of either uncharged alpha-hydroxy aldehydes, or of alpha-hydroxy aldehydes with a negative charge removed three or seven atoms from the aldehydic carbon, is generally not as successful.