Enzyme-catalyzed cascade synthesis of hydroxyiminoacetamides

In order to synthesize N-(3-azido-1-phenylpropyl)-2-hydroxyiminoacetamide, a key compound for the preparation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) reactivators of the N-substituted 2-hydroxyiminoacetamide type, it was necessary to develop a method for forming an amide bond between an ethyl glyoxylate oxime and an amine. Using Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) in a cascade enzyme-BOP catalyzed reaction, the efficient synthesis of the target hydroxyiminoacetamide was achieved.