STEREOSELECTIVE HYDROLYSIS OF NITRILES AND AMIDES UNDER MILD CONDITIONS USING A WHOLE-CELL CATALYST

An immobilised whole cell Rhodococcus sp. (SP 361) has been shown to be an effective catalyst for the stereoselective hydrolysis of both racemic and prochiral nitrile containing compounds. 2-Alkyl-arylacetonitriles 6a-8a were hydrolysed to (S)-acids and (R)-amides whereas the closely related substrate 9a gave the (R)-acid. A series of prochiral dinitriles 10a-13a were hydrolysed to the corresponding (S)-acids with e.e.'s 22-84%. Models to account for the stereoselectivity of the enzymic hydrolyses have been proposed.