Microbiological transformations.: Part 42:: A two-liquid-phase preparative scale process for an epoxide hydrolase catalysed resolution of para-bromo-α-methyl styrene oxide.: Occurrence of a surprising enantioselectivity enhancement

A two-liquid-phase process allowing for the preparative scale enantioselective resolution of 80 g/L (i.e. 0.38 mol/L) para-bromo-alpha-methyl styrene oxide is described, using an enzymatic extract from the fungus Aspergillus niger. The lifetime of the enzyme, and therefore the efficiency of the biohydrolysis, was considerably improved by performing this biohydrolysis at 4 degrees C. Surprisingly, the use of this procedure led to a dramatic enhancement of the reaction enantioselectivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.