Recent progress in hydroxynitrile lyases: utilization in the synthetic chemistry

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">As one of the few biocatalysts which can catalyze asymmetric C–C bond formation, hydroxynitrile lyases have emerged as attractive biocatalysts in terms of their high chemo- and enantioselectivity for the synthesis cyanohydrins and β-nitro alcohols under mild conditions. With the enabling technology on molecular biology and protein engineering, the application of hydroxynitrile lyases in asymmetric synthesis has been greatly expanded. We herein summarized the basic traits and principles of biocatalytic asymmetric hydrocyanation and nitroaldol reactions. In addition, the representative examples of recent biocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of bioactive compounds <italic>via</italic> hydrocyanation or nitroaldol reaction as key steps are exemplified, and the future directions are briefly discussed.