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Oxynitrilases for asymmetric C-C bond formation.
D V Johnson1, A A Zabelinskaja-Mackova, H Griengl
1Spezialforschungsbereich Biokatalyse, Institut für Organische Chemie der Technischen Universität Graz, Graz, A-8010, Austria.
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|February 19, 2000
Summary
Oxynitrilases are now readily available for preparing chiral cyanohydrins. Advances in genetics and molecular cloning enable their industrial application in asymmetric synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis
- Organic Chemistry
- Enzymology
Background:
- Oxynitrilases are enzymes capable of synthesizing cyanohydrins.
- Cyanohydrins are valuable chiral building blocks in organic synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the availability and potential of oxynitrilases for asymmetric synthesis.
- To discuss advances enabling industrial applications.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging molecular cloning and genetic engineering to produce oxynitrilases.
- Investigating enzyme mechanisms for optimized catalytic activity.
Main Results:
- Oxynitrilases are now readily accessible for the preparation of (R)- or (S)-cyanohydrins.
- Enzymes have demonstrated significant potential as catalysts in asymmetric synthesis.
- Sufficient enzyme quantities are now available for industrial needs.
Conclusions:
- Oxynitrilase technology is mature for industrial-scale asymmetric synthesis.
- Further research has elucidated enzyme mechanisms and facilitated production.