Simple one-pot process for the bioresolution of tertiary amino ester protic ionic liquids using subtilisin

An efficient hydrolase-catalyzed bioresolution of tertiary amino ester protic ionic liquids has been demonstrated.
Protic ionic liquids have been prepared in one step from the corresponding tertiary amino alcohols by treatment with butyric anhydride. After bioresolution, unreacted esters can be easily separated from the corresponding alcohols by extraction with hexane. Bioresolution of quinuclidin-3-yl butyrate has been performed with excellent selectivity.