Abstract

Preparation of optically active amines from oximes: Yeast catalyzed selective reduction

Author(s): Rita J.Varma, Bhaskar G.Gaikwad, Sunita R.Deshpande

A variety of yeast cultures from NCIM (National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms), NCL, Pune, India were screened for oxime reductases activity using 4-methyl-2-pentanone oxime as model substrate. Yeast cells were grown on MGYP medium separated from the broth and used as biocatalyst. The selectivity of the yeast in the presence of other reducible groups was also studied; thus diacetyl monoxime, which had a reducible keto group, demonstrated that the reaction was chemoselective and dimethyl glyoxime, having two oxime groups, though toxic formost yeast showed the reaction was regioselective. The reaction on acetophenone oxime and benzoin oxime exhibited that in general aromatic groups tended to facilitate the reduction reaction. A sample product analysis for each substrate indicated the product was optically active.