Simple Plug-In Synthetic Step for the Synthesis of (−)-Camphor from Renewable Starting Materials

Elia Calderini, Ivana Drienovská, Kamela Myrtollari, Michaela Pressnig, Volker Sieber, Helmut Schwab, Michael Hofer, Robert Kourist*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Racemic camphor and isoborneol are readily available as industrial side products, whereas (1R)-camphor is available from natural sources. Optically pure (1S)-camphor, however, is much more difficult to obtain. The synthesis of racemic camphor from α-pinene proceeds via an intermediary racemic isobornyl ester, which is then hydrolyzed and oxidized to give camphor. We reasoned that enantioselective hydrolysis of isobornyl esters would give facile access to optically pure isoborneol and camphor isomers, respectively. While screening of a set of commercial lipases and esterases in the kinetic resolution of racemic monoterpenols did not lead to the identification of any enantioselective enzymes, the cephalosporin Esterase B from Burkholderia gladioli (EstB) and Esterase C (EstC) from Rhodococcus rhodochrous showed outstanding enantioselectivity (E>100) towards the butyryl esters of isoborneol, borneol and fenchol. The enantioselectivity was higher with increasing chain length of the acyl moiety of the substrate. The kinetic resolution of isobornyl butyrate can be easily integrated into the production of camphor from α-pinene and thus allows the facile synthesis of optically pure monoterpenols from a renewable side-product.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2951-2956
Number of pages6
JournalChemBioChem
Volume22
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • asymmetric catalysis
  • borneol
  • camphor
  • esterases
  • kinetic resolution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Organic Chemistry

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