Baeyer-Villiger reaction biochemical

The Baeyer-Villiger reaction is also effected by biochemical oxidation using the enzyme cyclohexanone oxygenase from Acinetobacter strain NCIB 9871. Cyclohexanone is thus converted into e-caprolactone [1043], and phenylacetone (l-phenyl-2-propanone) is transformed into benzyl acetate. The formation of benzyl acetate from phenylacetone involves the same migration as that in oxidation with peroxytrifluoroacetic acid (equation 387) [1034]. More examples of biochemical Baeyer-Villiger reactions occur in diketones and steroids see equation 397). 

The first indication of the existence of so-called Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) was reported in the late 1940s [56]. It was observed that certain fungi were able to oxidize steroids via a BV reaction [56], but two decades elapsed before the first BVMOs were isolated and characterized [57, 58]. All characterized BVMOs contain a flavin cofactor that is vital for the catalytic activity of the enzyme, Furthermore, NADH or NADPH cofactors are needed as electron donors. Careful inspection of all available biochemical data on BVMOs has revealed that at least two discrete classes of BVMOs exist, types I and II [59]. 

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