Investigation of lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of naproxen methyl ester: use of NMR spectroscopy methods to study substrate–enzyme interaction

(±)-2-(6-Methoxy-2-naphthyl)propionic acid methyl ester (methyl ester of Naproxen), the precursor of therapeutically important nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was enantioselectively hydrolysed using as biocatalyst Candida rugosa lipase. In research aimed at studing the structure–activity relationship (SAR), NMR spectroscopy methods were employed to identify which Naproxen molecular moiety was essential to the substrate–enzyme interaction. The experimental results, in agreement with previous computer modelling studies and reported kinetic data, gave new information on the enzyme–substrate complex formation in solution.