Developing a Biocascade Process: Concurrent Ketone Reduction-Nitrile Hydrolysis of 2-Oxocycloalkanecarbonitriles

Org Lett. 2016 Jul 15;18(14):3366-9. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.6b01510. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Abstract

A stereoselective bioreduction of 2-oxocycloalkanecarbonitriles was concurrently coupled to a whole cell-catalyzed nitrile hydrolysis in one-pot. The first step, mediated by ketoreductases, involved a dynamic reductive kinetic resolution, which led to 2-hydroxycycloalkanenitriles in very high enantio- and diastereomeric ratios. Then, the simultaneous exposure to nitrile hydratase and amidase from whole cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous provided the corresponding 2-hydroxycycloalkanecarboxylic acids with excellent overall yield and optical purity for the all-enzymatic cascade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't