Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the non-tricyclic antidepressants Fluoxetine, Tomoxetine and Nisoxetine

Abstract

3-Chloro-1-phenylpropan-1-ol and the corresponding butanoate, 3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propyl butanoate, were kinetically resolved using lipase B from Candida antarctica catalysis by transesterification and hydrolysis respectively. The resulting chiral building blocks (S)- and (R)-3-chloro-1-phenylpropanol were converted into both enantiomers of the antidepressant drugs, Fluoxetine, Tomoxetine and Nisoxetine.