The utility of enzymes in generating molecular diversity. Lipase mediated amidation of polybenzyl esters

The feasibility of using lipases, particularly Pseudomonas cepacia, for the synthesis of a diverse molecular library is demonstrated. Twenty-six different compounds were synthesized via lipase-catalyzed reaction of a core diester substrate with several amine partners, resulting in formation of a library of amides which were identified using electrospray mass spectrometry.