The effect of stirring and seeding on the AcPheLeuNH2 synthesis and crystallization in a reversed micellar system

The present work describes the enzymatic synthesis and simultaneous crystallization of the dipeptide AcPheLeuNH2 by α-chymotrypsin in a reversed micellar system of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB)/heptane/octanol/carbonate buffer. The low solubility of the dipeptide in the micellar solution led to the formation and growth of needle-like crystals during the synthesis as soon as supersaturation was achieved. The crystallization process then followed a typical pattern, proceeding in three phases: nucleation, de-supersaturation, and re-equilibrium of saturation. Crystallization was followed by visual observation with an optical microscope, and the increase of crystal number and size was confirmed. Experiments showed that the supersaturation concentration decreases with the addition of AcPheLeuNH2 seeds before the reaction, and also with a decrease of the stirring speed. It was also observed that the increase of both seed concentration and stirring advances the start of crystallization, so that the dipeptide is more quickly removed from solution. The consequent decrease in its loss through hydrolysis causes an increase in its yield. Both stirring and seeding could constitute important generic strategies for promoting crystallization of more soluble dipeptides during their synthesis in similar reversed micellar systems.