Nitrile-converting enzymes plant

Besides the use of stereoselective nitrile-converting enzymes as described above, useful chiral building blocks have also been obtained by stereoselective nitrile-forming enzymes. The main product class of nitrile-forming enzymes are cyanohydrins (a-hydroxynitriles, 1-cyanoalkanols), which are versatile synthons in organic synthesis that are readily convertible to a-hydroxy acids [90], a-hydroxy aldehydes [91], ethanolamines [92], amino alcohols, pyrethroid insecticides [93], imidazoles, and heterocycles [94]. Examples of valuable bioactive products derived from chiral cyanohydrins are (i )-adrenaline, L-ephedrin, and (5)-amphetamines [95]. For the synthesis of chiral cyanohydrins, stereoselective enzymes from both plant and bacterial sources have been used. 

Notably, nitrile-degrading enzymes (e.g. nitrilase that converts the CN group to carboxylic acid, and nitrile hydratase that produces an amide function) have been described, and they co-exist with aldoxime-degrading enzymes in bacteria (Reference 111 and references cited therein). Smdies in this area led to the proposal that the aldoxime-nitrile pathway, which is implemented in synthesis of drugs and fine chemicals, occurs as a natural enzymic pathway. It is of interest that the enzyme responsible for bacterial conversion of Af-hydroxy-L-phenylalanine to phenacetylaldoxime, an oxidative decarboxylation reaction, lacks heme or flavin groups which are found in plant or human enzymes that catalyze the same reaction. Its dependency on pyridoxal phosphate raised the possibility that similar systems may also be present in plants . 

On the other hand, various ( l-cyanohydrins have been prepared using (5)-hydroxy-nitrile lyases from plants (Fig. 34). The (5)-cyanohydrins can be further converted to a-hydroxy acids by acid hydrolysis without racemization [107]. A recent example is the hydroxynitrile lyase from Manihot esculenta, which was cloned in E. coli and used as chiral catalyst for the synthesis of a broad range of optically active a-hydroxynitriles including keto-(5)-cyanohydrins using diisopropyl ether as organic solvent and HCN as cyanide source [112]. Compared to the enzymes from leaves, the overexpressed enzyme in E. coli showed higher enantioselectivity. 

The oxidation of 130 by oxygen under pressure was developed af lab scale. Under optimal conditions, the substrate/bisulfite mixture was added to a solution of 130 (3.9 g/1), MAON401 and catalase over 20h. Substrate 130 (65g/l) was converted to sulfonate 133 with a small amount of 131 (<10%). The enzyme reaction stream was telescoped for cyanation to afford only trans-nitrile 134 in 90% yields from 130. Subsequenfly the nitrile was transformed to the methyl ester and the product was converted to the free base 132. In the final step the free base was crysfallized to afford 135 in 56% yield and >99% ee. The conditions of the procedure were successfully applied to pilot plant scale. Compared with the resolution method in the enzymatic process the product yield was increased by 150%, raw material use was reduced by 59.8%, consumption of water was reduced by 60.7%, and the overall process waste was reduced by 63.1% [167]. 

---