An enzymatic resolution was carried out for the preparation of enriched beta-heterocyclic D-alanine derivatives using Escherichia coli aromatic L-amino acid transaminase. The excess of pyrazole, imidazole, or 1,2,4-triazole reacted with methyl-2-acetamidoacrylate in acetonitrile in the presence of potassium carbonate at 60degreesC, directly leading to make the potassium salt of the corresponding N-acetyl-beta-heterocyclic alanine derivatives. After the acidic deprotection of the N-acetyl group, 10 mM of racemic pyrazolylalanine, triazolylalanine, and imidazolylalanine were resolved to D-pyrazolylalanine, D-triazolylalanine, and D-imidazolylalanine with 46% (85% ee), 42% (72% ee), and 48% (95% ee) conversion yield in 18 h, respectively, using E. coli aromatic L-amino acid transaminase (EC 2.6.1.5). Although the three beta-heterocyclic L-alanine derivatives have similar molecular structures, they showed different reaction rates and enantioselectivities. The relative reactivities of the transaminase toward the beta-heterocyclic L-alanine derivatives could be explained by the relationship between the substrate binding energy (E, kcal/mol) to the enzyme active site and the distance (delta, Angstrom) from the nitrogen of a-amino group of the substrates to the C4' carbon of PLP-Lys258 Schiff base. As the ratio of the substrate binding energy (E) to the distance (delta) becomes indicative value of k(cat)/K-M of the enzyme to the substrate, the relative reactivities of the beta-heterocyclic L-alanine derivatives were successfully correlated with E/delta, and the relationship was confirmed by our experiments. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.