Enantioselective hydrolysis of β-hydroxy nitriles using the whole cell biocatalyst Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC BAA-870

The kinetic resolution of 3-hydroxy-4-aryloxybutanenitriles and 3-hydroxy-3-arylpropanenitriles by the nitrile biocatalyst Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC BAA-870 was attempted. The nitriles were converted to the corresponding carboxyamides and carboxyacids with enantiomeric excesses (ee) of 0.55 to >99% depending on the substrate. The organism expressed nitrile hydratase and amidase activities responsible for these biotransformations.