Synthesis of Aliphatic and α‐Halogenated Ketone Cyanohydrins with the Hydroxynitrile Lyase from Manihot esculenta

Abstract

AbstractThe potential of the hydroxynitrile lyase from Manihot esculenta towards ketone substrates was investigated. It was observed that the length of the aliphatic chain is a key parameter for the conversion of aliphatic, non‐branched ketones. Smaller substrates are readily converted with high enantioselectivites, but the elongation of the chain length causes a significant loss in enzyme activity. For a number of halogenated, herein especially fluorinated, acetophenone derivatives the corresponding cyanohydrins have been synthesized with good to moderate enantioselectivities.