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Yeast‐mediated preparation of l ‐PAC in an organic solvent
Author(s) -
Kostraby Margaret M.,
Smallridge Andrew J.,
Trewhella Maurie A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.10117
Subject(s) - benzaldehyde , chemistry , ethanol , solvent , pyruvic acid , yeast , alcohol , organic chemistry , organic solvent , catalysis , biochemistry , chemical engineering , engineering
The yeast‐mediated acyloin condensation of benzaldehyde and pyruvic acid to form l ‐PAC occurs in a petroleum spirit solvent system at room temperature with moderate conversion (30%) and high enantioselectivity (86%ee) after 24 h. The addition of a small amount of ethanol (0.5% mL) to the reaction mixture inhibits the formation of the side product benzyl alcohol and increases the conversion to l ‐PAC. Conducting the reaction using 13 C‐labeled pyruvate indicated that the pyruvate was incorporated into the l ‐PAC and that the excess pyruvate was converted into ethanol. Conducting the reaction at 5°C results in similar conversion but higher enantioselectivity. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 77: 827–831, 2002; DOI 10.1002/bit.10117