Asymmetric Hydrolysis of Epoxides using an Immobilized Enzyme Preparation from Rhodococcus sp.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0957-4166(00)80223-2

An enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis of epoxides was achieved using an immobilized crude enzyme preparation derived from Rhodococcus sp. (NOVO SP 409).The mechanism of the reaction was shown to occur in a trans-specific hydrolytic opening via an S_N2-type of reaction.Depending on the substitutional pattern of the substrate, optically active epoxides and 1,2-diols with varying optical purities were obtained (in one case e.e. 72percent).