Asymmetric Hydrolysis of (±)-α-Substituted Carboxylic Acid Esters with Microorganisms

Abstract

Microorganisms that hydrolyze methyl 2-phenylpropionate (1) or reduce 4-phenyl-2-butanone (3) were screened from 250 type cultures. Several Aspergilli and two bacteria hydrolyzed ester 1, and Asp. sojae IAM 2703 preferentially hydrolyzed CR)-isomer of (±)-l, whereas Bacillus subtilis var. niger IFO 3108 and Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC10143 preferentially hydrolyzed (5)-isomer. The hydrolysis of the related esters of 1 with these organisms was also examined.