Enzymatic Synthesis of Dipeptides in Ionic Liquids

Immobilized protease-catalyzed synthesis of peptides from natural amino acids has been achieved in ionic liquids (ILs). Three ionic liquids BMIM.PF6, BMIM.BF4 and EtPy.BF4 have been tested; an effective yet simple and practical method has been devised. The product yields are comparable with those seen in molecular solvents. A max yield of 49 % for Boc-Leu-TrpOEt has been obtained. This study shows that the advantages seen in organic solvents can also be achieved in ILs, and use of such medium could provide a viable alternative to organic and aqueous media for biocatalysis.