(<i>R</i>)‐Selective Nitroaldol Reaction Catalyzed by Metal‐Dependent Bacterial Hydroxynitrile Lyases

Abstract

Abstract The nitroaldol (Henry) reaction is a valuable C−C bond‐forming reaction resulting in β‐nitro alcohols, which are important building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. Metal‐dependent bacterial hydroxynitrile lyases with a cupin fold couple nitromethane or nitroethane and various aldehydes to yield ( R )‐β‐nitro alcohols with up to 90 % conversion and up to ≥99 % enantiomeric excess.