Conversion of Phenylacetonitrile and its Derivates

Biotransformation of phenylacetonitrile and its derivates using nitrilases has become an attractive approach due to its selectivity and mild reaction conditions in recent years. Oliveira et al. obtained several strains belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, 

Enzymatic conversion of pheny-lacetonitrile into hydroxypheny-lacetic acid. 

Enzymatic hydrolysis of 2-methyl-2-propylmalononitrile into CMPA. 

2- hydroxyphenylacetic acid were generated as the product. The marine filamentous fungus A. sydowii CBMAI934 was adopted for biotransformation of methylphe-nylacetonitriles [9]. Experimental results showed that the phenylacetonitrile, 2-methylphenylacetonitrile, 3-methylphenylacetonitrile, and 4-methylphenylacetonitrile can be directly converted into 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2-methylphenylacetic acid, 

3- methylphenylacetic acid, and 4-methylphenylacetic acid by using A. sydowii cells as the biocatalyst. 

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