An efficient enzymatic synthesis of 5-aminovaleric acid

The title compound was prepared enzymatically from l-lysine in an excellent yield and under buffer-free conditions. l-Lysine was oxidized by the action of l-lysine α-oxidase from Trichoderma viride followed by spontaneous oxidative decarboxylation of the intermediate 6-amino-2-oxocaproic acid in the reaction medium. l-Lysine α-oxidase was immobilized on an epoxy-activated solid support (Sepabeads EC-EP) and the activity of both solution-based and immobilized enzyme in this reaction was determined.