ENZYMES IN ORGANIC-SYNTHESIS - OXIDOREDUCTIONS

This article reviews the use of several oxidoreduction enzymes, includ ing monooxygenases, chloroperoxidase, arene dioxygenase, lipoxygenase, galactose oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenases, in the preparation of o ptically pure or enriched epoxides, halohydrins, sulfoxides, hydropero xides, alcohols, cyclohexadienediols, lactones and alpha-hydroxy aldeh ydes. The mechanisms of some of these enzyme-catalysed transformations , and their scopes and limitations in synthetic chemistry are also dis cussed. Representative syntheses of a key intermediate of 5-lipoxygena se inhibitor, a seven-carbon C-glycoside and an active component of th e antibiotic bialaphos have been experimentally illustrated using Lact obacillus alcohol dehydrogenase, chloroperoxidase and glutamate dehydr ogenase, respectively.