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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
Published on: February 16, 2018
Biological Conversion of Amino Acids to Higher Alcohols
Marwa M El-Dalatony1, Shouvik Saha1, Sanjay P Govindwar1
1Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
'Higher' alcohols, which contain more than two carbons, have a higher boiling point, higher cetane number, and higher energy density than ethanol. Blends of biodiesel and higher alcohols can be used in internal combustion engines as next-generation biofuels without any modification and are minimally corrosive over extensive use. Producing higher alcohols from biomass involves fermenting and metabolizing amino acids. In this review, we describe the pathways and regulatory mechanisms involved in amino acid bioprocessing to produce higher alcohols and the effects of amino acid supplementation as a nitrogen source for higher alcohol production. We also discuss the most recent approaches to improve higher alcohol production via genetic engineering technologies for three microorganisms: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clostridium spp., and Escherichia coli.
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Acid Halides to Alcohols: Grignard Reaction
Grignard reagents are a source of carbanions and function as nucleophiles. The mechanism begins with the nucleophilic attack by the carbanion at the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs,...

