ENZYME-CATALYZED SYNTHESIS OF (S)-CYANOHYDRINS AND SUBSEQUENT HYDROLYSIS TO (S)-α-HYDROXY-CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)88777-8

(S)-Cyanohydrins 2 are obtained with high enantioselectivity from aromatic aldehydes and HCN in the presence of (S)-oxynitrilase (E.C.4.1.2.11).Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the cyanohydrins 2 affords the corresponding (S)-α-hydroxy carboxylic acids 3 without racemization.