Investigation of the Cosolvent Effect on Six Isoenzymes of PLE in the Enantioselective Hydrolysis of Selected a,a-Disubstituted Malonate Esters

Six pigs in a pot: Pig liver esterase (PLE) is among the most widely studied esterase enzymes utilized in organic synthesis. Here we illustrate that the six recombinantly produced isoenzymes of PLE exhibit varying enantioselectivity during the hydrolysis of α,α‐disubstituted malonate esters in cosolvent mixtures. We have observed a rare cosolvent‐induced reversal of enantioselectivity for isoenzyme PLE 6 in the hydrolysis of a phthalimide‐containing α,α‐disubstituted malonate ester