ASYMMETRIC MICROBIAL HYDROLYSIS OF EPOXIDES

Kinetic resolution of 2-mono- and 2,2-disubstituted epoxides was accomplished using epoxide hydrolases from bacterial and fungal origin by employing lyophilized whole microbial cells. In all cases investigated, the biocatalytic hydrolysis was shown to proceed with retention of configuration at the stereogenic center leading to 1,2-diols and remaining epoxides. The selectivity of the reaction was dependent on the substrate structure and the strain used with E-values ranging from low or moderate (with 2-monosubstituted epoxides) to excellent (E > 100, with 2,2-disubstituted oxiranes).