Aromatic dioxygenases: molecular biocatalysis and applications

Aromatic dioxygenases have been found to catalyse single and tandem oxidati on reactions of conjugated polyenes. Rational selection and design of dioxy genases, allied to substrate shape, size and substitution pattern, has been used to control regiochemistry and stereochemistry during the oxygenation process. The resulting enantiopure bioproducts have been increasingly utili sed as precursors for new and alternative routes in chiral synthesis.