Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)-catalyzed carbon-sulfur bond addition and controllable selectivity in organic media

A novel enzymatic, promiscuous protocol for Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B)-catalyzed carbon-sulfur bond addition is described. Some control experiments have been designed to demonstrate the catalytic specificity of CAL-B. Selectivity between anti-Markovnikov addition and Markovnikov addition was achieved in different organic media. A series of thioether-containing ester functional groups was synthesized under the catalysis of CAL-B at 50 degrees C. All the products were characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR, ESI-MS).