Chemoenzymatic epoxidation of alkenes based on peracid formation by a Rhizomucor miehei lipase-catalyzed perhydrolysis reaction

A chemoenzymatic and selective method for the epoxidation of a series of cyclic and linear alkenes is described. Epoxides have been obtained in moderate to excellent conversions under mild reaction conditions through a two-step sequence, carried out in one-pot. This chemoenzymatic approach is based on a Rhizomucor miehei lipase-catalyzed perhydrolysis reaction to form the corresponding peracid, and subsequent epoxidation of the corresponding alkenes. Reaction parameters with influence in the biotransformation have been optimized specially focusing in the efficient enzymatic peracid formation by means of the correct choice of solvent, oxidant, and peracid precursor. This chemoenzymatic approach has been efficiently applied for the first time, in the regioselective chemical oxidation of (S)-carvone and limonene, both showing an opposite behavior for the oxidation of the internal and external C–C double bond, respectively.