Kinetic resolution of chiral alcohols in bifunctional membrane exhibiting enzyme activity and enantioselective permeation

The paper deals with the kinetic resolution of chiral alcohols in a transesterification process performed in the reactor containing a bifunctional polymer membrane. The membrane was prepared using an asymmetric polyamide film. It exhibits enantioselective permeabilities caused by an embedded imprinted polymer as well as catalytic properties induced by the immobilised lipase. The transesterification of vinyl acetate with (±)-trans-2-phenyl-1-cyclohexanol, performed in the reactor with the bifunctional membrane, gives chiral products of high purity. In this case, the enantiomeric excess (e.e.) of the product exceeds 98% while it reaches 80% only when the reactor with a common enzyme membrane is used.