Biotechnology Letters 2003-02-01

(R)-oxynitrilase-catalysed synthesis of chiral silicon-containing aliphatic (R)-ketone-cyanohydrins.

Ning Li, Min-Hua Zong, Chen Liu, Hua-Song Peng, Hua-Chang Wu

Index: Biotechnol. Lett. 25(3) , 219-22, (2003)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

Optically active 2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-ethylcyanide was prepared by enzymatic enantioselective transcyanation of acetyltrimethylsilane with acetone cyanohydrin in a biphasic system at 35 degrees C and pH 5. (R)-Oxynitrilase from apple seed meal was the best among all the enzymes explored and diisopropyl ether was the most suitable organic phase. Acetyltrimethylsilane was a better substrate of the enzyme than its carbon analogue. The substrate conversion and product enantiomeric excess of 2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-ethylcyanide were >99% and >99%, respectively.

Related Compounds

Structure Name/CAS No. Articles
Acetone cyanohydrin Structure Acetone cyanohydrin
CAS:75-86-5
(R)-Mandelonitrile lyase Structure (R)-Mandelonitrile lyase
CAS:9024-43-5