Organic Letters 2005-01-20

Cross-linked aggregates of (R)-oxynitrilase: a stable, recyclable biocatalyst for enantioselective hydrocyanation.

P E Keipert, A Gonzales, C L Gomez, V W MacDonald, J R Hess, R M Winslow

Index: Org. Lett. 7(2) , 327-9, (2005)

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Abstract

[Reaction: see text] The (R)-oxynitrilase from almonds was immobilized as a cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) via precipitation with 1,2-dimethoxyethane and subsequent cross-linking using glutaraldehyde. The resulting preparation was a highly effective hydrocyanation catalyst under microaqueous conditions, which suppress the nonenzymatic background reaction. The beneficial effect of these latter conditions on the hydrocyanation of slow-reacting aldehydes is demonstrated. The oxynitrilase CLEA was recycled 10 times without loss of activity.