Enantioselective Conversion of Racemic Felodipine to S(-)-Felodipine by <i>Aspergillus niger</i> and Lipase AP6 Enzyme

Abstract

The present study involves the enantioselective resolution of racemic Felodipine by using free and immobilized forms of microbial cultures as well as an enzyme (Lipase AP6). Among the microbial cultures employed in the present study, Aspergillus niger, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Cunninghamella elegans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Cunninghamella blakesleeana were found to possess capability of enantioselective resolution of racemic Felodipine. The enantiomeric excess (ee%) of Felodipine after reaction catalyzed by whole-cell A. niger and S. paucimobilis was found as 81.59 and 71.67%, respectively. Immobilization enhanced the enantioselectivity (enantiomeric ratio (E)) of the biocatalysts and hence this led to enhanced enantiomeric purity of the drug. The ee% values were found to be enhanced in reactions catalyzed by A. niger and S. paucimobilis cultures after immobilization as 98.27 and 93.56%, respectively. Enantiomeric ratio (E) of the reactions catalyzed by all the biocatalysts has been improved after immobilization. E value of the reaction catalyzed by immobilized A. niger was found to be excellent (E > 100) and hence the drug showed high enantiomeric purity. In lipase AP6 catalyzed study, the enantioselectivity was enhanced after immobilization with excellent E value, which led to enhanced enantiomeric purity of the drug (99.21% ee%).