ALMOND OXYNITRILASE-CATALYZED TRANSFORMATION OF SUBSTITUTED ALDEHYDES- PART 2

Different alpha- and beta-alkyl substituted aldehydes (1-5) have been submitted to the catalytic action of almond oxynitrilase, in order to explore the influence of a stereocenter already present in the substra te molecule on the selectivity of this enzyme. The results indicate th at substituents in alpha-position to the aldehyde group significantly influence the stereochemical outcome of the AON-catalyzed transformati on, especially when they are of different size. On the other hand, the presence of a beta-substituent seems to have little effect on AON sel ectivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.