Scale-up of the enantioselective reaction for the enzymatic resolution of (R,S)-ibuprofen

Abstract

The reaction for the resolution of (R,S)-ibuprofen was scaled-up to yield gram quantities of (S)-ibuprofen. This was accomplished through two enantioselective reactions each catalysed by Novozym 435. In the first reaction, starting from 300 g of racemic ibuprofen, 88.9 g of enantioenriched (S)-ibuprofen with an enantiomeric excess of the order of 85% were produced. In the subsequent reaction, 75 g of the 85 % e.e. material were utilized to produce 38.4 g of (S)-ibuprofen with an enantiomeric excess of 97.5 %.