Lipases and (R)-oxynitrilases:: useful tools in organic synthesis

The use of enzymes in organic solvents is currently of special relevance for the preparation of products of high added value. Lipases are the enzymes that have shown the greatest utility through enzymatic transesterification reactions. Over the last few years, we have shown the value of the enzymatic aminolysis and ammonolysis reactions for the preparation of amides and for the resolution of esters and amines. We have shown that the enzymatic alkoxycarbonylation is also of great utility in chemoselective reactions of natural products. Lyases, enzymes much less exploited in organic synthesis, are proving increasingly interesting, especially the use of (R)-oxynitrilases for the synthesis of optically active cyanohydrins. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.