Highly enantioselective route to (R)-proline derivatives via enzyme catalysed hydrolysis of cis-N-benzyl-2,5-bismethoxycarbonylpyrrolidine in an aqueous dimethyl sulphoxide medium

Abstract

Pig liver esterase catalysed hydrolysis of diester (1) with dimethyl sulphoxide as cosolvent in buffered solutions gave optically pure monoester (2) which was further transformed to the (R)-proline related ester (4) by radical decarboxylation.