Synthesis of 6-hydroxy-8-chlorooctanoate ethyl ester by chemoenzymatic method

6-hydroxy-8-chlorooctanoate ethyl ester, an intermediate of α-lipoic acid, was synthesized via a chemoenzymatic method. High-throughput screening revealed that keto reductase HGD-1 could effectively catalyze the preparation of 6-hydroxy-8-chlorooctanoate ethyl ester, achieving a substantial conversion rate. The reaction conditions were optimized subsequently, the parameters for the complexation reaction were established as follows: a weight of AlCl3 1.8 times that of the substrate; a reaction time of 4 h; a temperature range of 20-25 °C. The parameters for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction were as follows: a temperature range of 25-30 °C; a reaction time of 4 h; a solution pH of 6.5-7.5; a substrate concentration of 50 g/L; concentrations of keto reductase HGD-1, coenzyme glucose dehydrogenase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate of 3 g/L, 4 g/L, and 0.05 g/L, respectively. Under these optimal conditions, the substrate conversion rate exceeded 95%, and 92% yield of 6-hydroxy-8-chlorooctanoate ethyl ester is obtained. Suggesting a viable, eco-friendly method for synthesizing α-lipoic acid, and it provides a green process route for the industrial production of α-lipoic acid.