Coupling of Bioreaction and Separation via Novel Thermosensitive Ionic Liquids Applied in the Baker's Yeast-Catalyzed Reduction of Ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate.

The use of baker’s yeast to reduce ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate (EOPB) in conventional biphasic systems is hindered by low productivities due to mass transfer resistance between the biocatalyst and the substrate partitioned into two different phases. To overcome the limitation, a new reaction-separation coupling process (RSCP) was configured in this study, based on the novel thermosensitive ionic liquids (ILs) with polyoxyethylene-tail. The solubility of ILs in common solvents was investigated to configure the unique thermosensitive ionic liquids–solvent biphasic system (TIBS) in which the reduction was performed. [(CH3)2N(C2H5)(CH2CH2O)2H][PF6] (c2) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane possesses the thermosensitive function of homogeneous at lower temperatures and phase separating at higher temperatures. The phase transformation temperature (PTT) of the mixed system of c2/1,2-dimethoxyethane (v/v, 5:18) was about 33 °C. The bioreaction takes place in a “homogeneous” liquid phase at 30 °C. At the end of each reduction run, the system temperature is increased upon to the PTT, while c2 is separated from 1,2-dimethoxyethane with turning the system into two phases. The enantiomeric excesses (e.e.) of ethyl (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate ((R)-EHPB) increased about 25~30% and the yield of ethyl-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate (EHPB) increased 35% in TIBS, compared with the reduction in 1,2-dimethoxyethane. It is expected that the TIBS established in this study could provide many future opportunities in the biocatalysis.