Exploiting the enzymatic machinery of Arthrobacter atrocyaneus for oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols

We evaluated Arthrobacter atrocyaneus (R1AF57) as producer of oxidoreductases for oxidative kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alcohols via oxidation reaction. This bacterium was isolated from Amazon soil samples using medium enriched with (RS)-1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanol as a carbon source. The kinetic resolution of several secondary alcohols through enantioselective oxidation mediated by resting cells and growing cells of A. atrocyaneus was efficiently achieved for the most alcohols. In general, it was possible to obtain only the (S)-enantiomer from (RS)-1-arylethanols.

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► Arthrobacter atrocyaneus was isolated from Amazon soil samples using medium enriched with (RS)-1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanol as a carbon source.
► Oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols mediated by resting cells and growing cells was studied.
► In general, it was possible to obtain only the (S)-enantiomer from (RS)-1-arylethanols.