Preparation of optically pure L-2-hydroxyaldehydes with yeast transketolase

Abstract

L-2-Hydroxyaldehydes L-3 with a great variety of substituents in 3-position are obtained in good chemical and excellent optical yields by kinetic resolution in the transketolase-catalyzed reaction of racemic 2-hydroxyaldehydes with lithium hydroxypyruvate 4 where only the enantiomer (R)-3 reacts to 5-deoxy-D-xyluloses 5.