Hydrolases in organic synthesis: Preparation of enantiomerically pure compounds

Abstract

Esterhydrolases (Esterases, Lipases ) are highly (chemo-, regio- and enantio- ) selective biocatalysts for the transformation of racemic and achiral substrates into enantiomerically pure compounds. Numerous examples for their application in the preparation of synthetically useful chiral auxiliaries and building blocks for flavour compounds, pheromones and several pharmaceuticals including B-adrenergic blockers, antidepressants and ACE inhibitors are presented. © 1992, IUPAC