Enzymes for Kinetic Resolution

Biocatalysts, mainly hydrolytic enzymes and oxidoreductases, have been used for organic reactions due to their excellent enantioselectivities and environmentally friendliness.1 Typical enzymatic reactions used for the organic synthesis are shown in Figure 1. Especially, hydrolytic enzymes for kinetic resolutions of racemates have been utilized widely because of their high stabilities, wide substrate specificities, lack of cofactor requirements and high availabilities. 

Enzymes are characterized by shape-selective binding which results in enantio-, dia-stereo-, or chemoselectivity. Nature s catalysts may provide unique advantages of efficiency, stereoselectivity and environmental friendliness. These are perhaps the main arguments for the widespread application of enzymes for kinetic resolutions. 

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