PLE in organic synthesis: immobilization and application in reactors

• Grant number: 05/01582-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2005
• End date: October 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Henrique Celso Trevisan
• Grantee: João Batista de Medeiros
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of biocatalysts in organic synthesis, especially enzymes, has been receiving quite attention since the beginning of the decade of 1980. Advantages associated to the biocatalysts have been inciting technological interest on the theme. Lipases, esterases and proteases are the most applied enzymes in organic synthesis. Among them, some lipases and an esterase (porcine liver esterase: PLE) have been receiving special attention. The immobilization allows the enzyme to be easily separate from the reaction medium and reused. Another advantage is the use in continuous reactors. Enzymes of greater commercial interest have been made available in the immobilized form. The fixed bed reactor is the one that presents better performance and the first option for a continuous process. Considering the importance of PLE, as well as of its immobilization and application in reactors, the proposal is to isolate, immobilize and to study its application in reactors. There were chosen compounds of interest in fine chemistry, being given preference to pharmaceuticals. The enzyme will be immobilized in silica produced in the laboratory and characterized for the activity and operational stability. These studies will be conducted with two intermediaries of interest in the drug synthesis, allowing establishing the use of PLE in batch and recycle reactors.