Preparation of Both Enantiomers of Malic and Citramalic Acid and Other Hydroxysuccinic Acid Derivatives by Stereospecific Hydrations of cis or trans 2-Butene-1,4-dioic Acids with Resting Cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)85678-7

(R)-Malic, (S)-malic, (R)-citramalic, (S)-citramalic, (2R,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-methylsuccinic and (2R,3S)-2,3-dimethyl-2-hydroxysuccinic acid were prepared on scales up to 25 mmol by stereospecific addition of water to different 2-butene-1,4-dioic acid derivatives catalyzed by resting cells of Clostridium formicoaceticum (Scheme 1).The (3R)-monodeuterio (R)- and (S)-malic acid as well as (R)- and (S)-citramalic acid were prepared using freeze-dried cells in 2H2O-buffer.The stereochemical purity of the products was in most cases >/= 99percent.