Kinetic study on reactive extraction of phenylalanine enantiomers with BINAP-copper complexes

Enantioselective liquid-liquid extraction has attracted considerable attention for its potential use in largescale production. Kinetic data are needed for the reliable scale-up of the process. This paper reports the kinetic study of reactive extraction of phenylalanine (Phe) enantiomers with BINAP-copper complex (BINAP-Cu) as a chiral selector. The theory of extraction accompanied by a chemical reaction was applied. The effects of agitation speed, interfacial area, pH value of aqueous phase, initial concentration of Phe enantiomers and initial concentration of BINAP-Cu on the specific rate of extraction were investigated. The forward rate constants of the reactions in the reactive extraction process are 7.93 × 10^-5m^5/2·mol^-1/2·s^-1 for D-Phe and 1.29 × 10^-4 m^5/2·mol^-1/2·s^-1 for L-Phe.