A robust chemo-enzymatic lactone synthesis using acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis

•A robust Baeyer-Villiger chemo-enzymatic method for lactone synthesis is described•The new application of acyltransferase isolated from Mycobacterium smegmatis is proposed•Acyltransferase exhibited high activity and stability under harsh reaction conditions

The new application of acyltransferase, isolated from Mycobacterium smegmatis for the chemo-enzymatic Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones to lactones was demonstrated. Acyltransferase exhibited high activity, and high stability under harsh reaction conditions, like oxidation with 60% aq. H2O2 at 45 °C. This paves the way to a novel robust chemo-enzymatic method for lactone synthesis with high yields.

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