Use of lipase for regioselective one pot amidation and hydrolysis

A study of the reactivity of esters with oxygenated linkers in lipase catalyzed transformations demonstrates that enhanced reactivity is observed in amidation reactions, but diminished reactivity is observed in hydrolyses using the same lipase. Two regioselective transformations (amidation and hydrolysis) can thus be achieved with diesters in the same pot using a single catalyst, effectively demonstrating lipaseʹs versatility.