Enantioselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides by Gordonia terrae IEGM 136 and Rhodococcus rhodochrous IEGM 66

Complete bioconversion of alkyl aryl sulfides to respective optically active sulfoxides was demonstrated using Rhodococcus rhodochrous IEGM 66 and Gordonia terrae IEGM 136 in the presence of n-hexadecane at pH 8.0 within 4 days. Bacterial cultures of the above strains allowed for the production of (S)-sulfoxides (up to 89% ee) and (R)-sulfoxides (up to 95% ee), respectively, and chemical yields of alkyl aryl sulfoxides produced were 64–100%.

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► Actinobacteria were used to synthesize optically active alkyl aryl sulfoxides.
► Application of R. rhodochrous IEGM 66 allowed for production of (S)-sulfoxides.
► G. terrae IEGM 136 allowed for production of (R)-sulfoxides.