Towards preparative peroxygenase-catalyzed oxyfunctionalization reactions in organic media

•The peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita can be used under non-aqueous reaction conditions.•Limitations of the non-aqueous reaction conditions comprise low specific activity of the immobilized biocatalyst and stability issues.•Nevertheless, preparative scale oxyfunctionalization reactions could be performed.

The peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) has been evaluated for stereoselective oxyfunctionalization chemistry under non-aqueous reaction conditions.The stereoselective hydroxylation of ethylbenzene to (R)-1-phenylethanol was performed in neat substrate as reaction medium together with the immobilized biocatalyst and tertBuOOH as oxidant.Stability and activity issues still have to be addressed. Nevertheless, gram-scale production of enantiopure (R)-1-phenylethanol was achieved with respectable 90,000 turnovers of the biocatalyst.

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