Kinetic resolution of racemic
-methyl-
-propiothiolactone (
rac-MPTL) using lipasesin organic solvent was studied. The lipase from
Pseudomonas cepacia (PCL) showedthe highest (
S)-enantioselectivity (
E > 100), and cyclohexane containing 1% (v/v) bufferwas identified as the best reaction medium for maintaining high enantioselectivityas well as high reaction rate. While the substrate inhibition was not observed up to300 mM
rac-MPTL, severe product inhibition was observed even at 50 mM racemic3-mercapto-
-methyl propionic acid (
rac-MMPA), which made the use of high substrateconcentration difficult. To overcome the product inhibition, the products, (
R)-MMPA,were neutralized by addition of a dilute basic solution. Although the resolution reactionproceeded further by the base titration, the enantioselectivity of the reaction decreasedas a result of nonenantioselective hydrolysis of
rac-MPTL in the basic solution. Underthese conditions, 200 mM
rac-MPTL was successfully resolved to above 95% ee
S with53% conversion.