Styrene enantioconvergent hydrolysis

Figure 6.66 Enantioconvergent hydrolysis of styrene oxides using two biocatalysts.

Also, the scope of suitable substrates has been explored. Thus, it was shown that substituted styrene derivatives such as various para-substituted styrene oxides [204] as well as )3-disubstituted derivatives [176] could be accommodated by one or both of these fungi. In the latter case, an interesting enantioconvergent hydrolysis of cz5-methyl substituted styrene oxide was observed, affording an 85% preparative yield of enantiopure (lP,2A)-diol. Further screening conducted on various other fungal strains indicated that this type of enzyme does indeed seem to be widespread within the fungal world [149,205]. 

Scheme 2.3 Enantioconvergent hydrolysis of styrene epoxides by Vigna radiata epoxide hydrolases.

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