Enantioselective Synthesis of 4-(Dimethylamino)pyridinesthrough a Chemical Oxidation-Enzymatic Reduction Sequence.Application in Asymmetric Catalysis

Enantiomerically pure 4-(dimethylamino)-3-(1-hydroxyalkyl)pyridines and 4-(dimethylamino)-3-[hydroxyACHTUNGTRENNUNG(phenyl)methyl]pyridine have been pre-pared through efficient chemoenzymatic routes. Forthis purpose different lipases and oxidoreductaseshave been tested in the preparation of opticallyactive 4-chloro derivatives and baker´s yeast wasfound to be an excellent catalyst for the bioreduc-tions of the corresponding ketones. Their applica-tions as enantioselective nucleophilic catalysts havebeen studied, important catalytic properties were ob-served in the stereoselective construction of quater-nary center