The dynamic kinetic resolution of 3-oxo-4-phenyl-β-lactam by recombinant E. coli overexpressing yeast reductase Ara1p

Using a recombinant E. coli strain overexpressing yeast reductase Ara1p, we reduced racemic 3-oxo-4-phenyl-β-lactam to cis-(3S,4R)-3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-β-lactam as a single enantiopure product. The dynamic kinetic resolution occurred over the course of fermentation at pH 7. Under the same conditions, 3-oxo-4-(2-thiophenyl)-β-lactam 4 and 3-oxo-4-(2-furyl)-β-lactam 5 were not resolved.