(R)-oxynitrilase catalyzed synthesis of (R)-ketone cyanohydrins

(R)-Oxynitrilase from almonds (Prunus amygdalus) catalyzes the enantioselective addition of HCN to ethyl alkyl ketones 1 in diisopropyl ether yielding (R)ethyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-2, which are hydrolyzed under acid catalysis to give the alpha-hydroxy acids (R)-3. This (R)oxynitrilase also catalyzes the enantioselective addition in aqueous citrate buffer (50 mM, pH 4.0), as demonstrated for the preparation of (R)-methyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-5 which are obtained in high enantiomeric excesses comparable to those in diisopropyl ether as solvent.