Asymmetric Synthesis of Aliphatic 2‐Hydroxy Ketones by Enzymatic Carboligation of Aldehydes

Abstract

Abstract Benzaldehyde lyase (BAL) and benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD) catalyse the asymmetric ligation of aliphatic aldehydes to afford enantiomerically enriched 2‐hydroxy ketones. Carboligation of linear aldehydes with both enzymes results in high levels of conversion and in enantioselectivities of up to 80 % ee . In cases involving branched aliphatic aldehydes, BAL enables the carboligation of 3‐methylbutanal with a high level of conversion and an enantioselectivity of 89 % ee .(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)