Enzymatic approaches for the production of amino acids by nitrilases are described. Dynamic kinetic asymmetric synthesis conditions were established for the aromatic aminonitriles, phenylglycinonitrile and 4-fluorophenylglycinonitrile, at high pH to produce the corresponding amino acid products in high enantiomeric excess. N-Acylation of aromatic aminonitriles led to spontaneous racemization at pH8, allowing preferential enzymatic ...
