Biocatalytic Processes for the Synthesis of Chiral Alcohols

Abstract

Recently, key advances in molecular biology and protein engineering techniques have yielded more practical biocatalytic processes for the synthesis of chiral alcohols. This chapter discusses these cases, which focusing on biocatalytic processes implemented on industrial scale or with a great industrial potential for the synthesis of chiral alcohols. Apart from chemical approaches, various biocatalytic strategies have been developed, including the use of, for example, ketoreductases (KREDs), and lipases. Examples of enzymatic processes for the production of chiral statin intermediates are discussed in the chapter, mainly focused on those with potential applicability or being applied on an industrial scale. It explores a few biocatalytic methods for the synthesis of optically pure ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate (HPBE), (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate ((S)-CHBE), 3-quinuclidinol, and 3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanenitrile (HPPN). Optically pure halogen-substituted 1-henylethanols are an important class of chiral building blocks. Finally, the chapter describes some biocatalytic processes for the synthesis of optically active halogen-substituted 1-phenylethanols.