Dynamic kinetic resolution of amines with nickel catalysts supported on mixed oxides of lanthanum and alkaline earth metals

Enantiomerically pure amines are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as building blocks for the synthesis of compounds with biological activities[1]. This project aims the synthesis of a chiral acetamide by the technique of dynamic kinetic resolution with different nickel catalysts supported in mixed oxides of lanthanum and alkaline earth metals. In this methodology the resolution and in situ racemization of the undesired enantiomer occurs due to the presence of a metal catalyst and a biocatalyst. In this sense, this synthesis pathway allows the achievement of a theoretical yield and enantiomeric excess of 100%[2]. The results obtained showed the efficiency of the nickel catalysts leading to excellent enantiomeric excesses. A summary are shown in table 1. The advantage in using nickel consists in the low cost associated with its commercialization in comparison to the catalysts of palladium and ruthenium, making the application of this system in a large scale economically viable.