2-Chloropropionic acid enzymatic

The compound f -2-chloropropionic acid is an important building block for herbicides. Suppose two enzymatic reactions are available for its production ... 

The required enantiomeric excess of (S)-chloropropionic acid is 98%. Which of the two reactions will give the highest yield of the target compound Both enzymatic reactions can be described with irreversible Michaelis-Menten kinetics. 

Enzymes are often used in kinetic resolutions, when one isomer reacts much faster than the other.25 This can be done on an industrial scale. Zeneca uses a dehalogenase on racemic 2-chloropropionic acid to obtain about 2000 ton/yr of the L-isomer for use in making a herbicide.26 Enzymatic resolutions may involve ring opening of epoxides,27 formation or hydrolysis of esters and amides, reduction of carbonyl compounds, and so on. Lipases are often used for this purpose.28 A typical example is reaction 10.16.29... 

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