Highly efficient Michael-type addition of acetaldehyde to β-nitrostyrenes by whole resting cells of Escherichia coli expressing 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase

- Biocatalyst based on whole cells and 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase was developed.
- (S)-4-nitro-3-phenyl-butanal was obtained in high optical purity (>99% ee) and yield.
- Biotransformation products were amenable to further chemical derivatizations.
- Michael addition of acetaldehyde to halo substituted β-nitrostyrenes was achieved.