Separation and quantitation of 2,3-butanediol isomers ((-),(+), and meso) by a combined use of enzyme and gas chromatography.

Abstract

There exist three isofneric forms of 2,3-bmtanediol (( -), (+), and meso), which are separated and identified as the optically active-and the mesoisomer by gas chromatography.1} However, quantification of each of the enantiomeric pairs ((-) and (+)) has not yet been done. Brevibacterium saccharolyticum C-1012 is known to possess a strictly stereospecific ( +)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase from the preceding reports.2'3* This enzyme catalyses the following reaction: