Insight into the stereoselectivity of PPL-catalyzed formation of polyesters from phenyl glycidyl ether and succinic anhydride

Analysis of the stereoselectivity that would be expected in the Pig Pancreatic Lipase-catalyzed oligomerization of succinic anhydride and phenyl glycidyl ether is carried out. The results show that no stereoselection was recorded at any step of the suggested mechanism of the process: opening of the chiral epoxide into 1,2-diol, nucleophilic attack of the chiral acylenzyme by a chiral diol, or by the hydroxyl group of a growing oligomer.