Immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) was employed in the kinetic resolution of racemic flurbiprofen by enantioselective esterification with methanol. It was found that the lipase has the R-stereopreference and the reaction matches Bi Bi Ping Pong mechanism with dead-end inhibition of methanol. Furthermore, the R-stereopreference was analyzed in details from the aspects of enzymatic kinetic mechanism and reaction activation energy of both enantiomers. The R-enantiomer shows lower activation energy and higher maximum reaction rate than the S-enantiomer, which implies the R-stereopreference of the lipase and makes the kinetic resolution of flurbiprofen via enzymatic reaction feasible.
(c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.