O emprego de lipases como agentes de resolução cinética de enantiômeros em síntese orgânica : aspectos gerais sobre a influência do solvente ; The use of lipases as agents of kinetic resolution of enantiomers in organic synthesis : general aspects of solvent's influence

In organic synthesis, lipases are the most frequently used biocatalysts. They are efficient stereoselective catalysts in the kinetic resolution of a wide variety of chiral compounds. The discovery that enzymes possess catalytic activity in organic solvents has made it possible to address the question of reaction medium influence on enzymatic specificity. Perhaps the most exciting and significant development in this emerging area is the discovery that enzyme specificity, in particular enantioselectivity, can be affected by changing from one organic solvent to another. This article discusses the scope and possible mechanistic models of this phenomenon in hydrolases, specially lipases, as well as directions of future research in the area.