SUBSTRATE SELECTIVITY, CELL DEACTIVATION, ENANTIOMERIC COMPOSITION INEPOXIDATION OF ALKENES CATALYZED BY METHANE-UTILIZING BACTERIA

Substrate selectivity,reasons for cell deactivation, enantiomeric comp osition of products in the epoxidation of alkenes catalyzed by methane - utilizing bacteria resting cell (Methylomonas sp. GYJ3, Methylomona s sp. S, Methylomonas sp. Z201, Methylosinus trichosporium IMV3011, Me thylococcus capsulatus IMV 3021) were studied. There were different ep oxidizing activities for various bacterial strains and various substra tes. Methane - utilizing bacteria were unable to epoxidize cyclohexene and srgrene, but short - chain alkenes. Activity of epoxidation was r elated to steric effect for allyl substrates XCH(2)CH = CH2 (X = H, Cl , Br, OH). The main reasons for cell deactivation were cell - toxicity of products and lost of coenzyme NADH. Chiral capillary gas chromatog raphy revealed that epoxidizing products of alkenes were racemic epoxi des.