Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of (R)-ketone-cyanohydrins and their hydrolysis to (R)-α-hydroxy-α-methyl-carboxylic acids

Abstract

(R)-Ketone-cyanohydrins (R)-2 are obtained with high enantioselectivity from aliphatic ketones 1 and HCN in organic solvents using (R)-oxynitrilase (EC 4.1.2.10) as catalyst. Acid catalyzed hydrolysis of the cyanohydrins (R)-2 affords the corresponding (R)-α-hydroxy-α-methyl-carboxylic acids (R)-3 without measurable racemization.