Recent developments in the asymmetric hydrolytic ring opening of epoxides catalysed by microbial epoxide hydrolase

Epoxide hydrolase has emerged as an important enzyme for the asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure epoxides and diols via biocatalytic hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) and enantioconvergent hydrolysis of racemic epoxides. Hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epoxides provides a single enantiomer of the remaining epoxide and a single enantiomer of the formed diol, whereas biocatalysts with complementary enantioselectivities and opposite regioselectivities provide enantiopure diols as the only product, through enantioconvergent hydrolysis.