Enantioselective hydrolysis of epoxides: the employment of the soluble fraction from Vicia sativa seedlings

Biocatalytic hydrolysis of meso and racemic aryl- and alkyl-oxiranes was ac complished by employing the epoxide hydrolase activity of the soluble fract ion of Vicia sativa seedlings. Whereas meso epoxides were not hydrolyzed by this fraction, racemic compounds were transformed into the corresponding d iols by formal anti-stereoselective water attack. Both substrate and produc t enantioselectivity were strongly influenced by the chains length and the presence of a hydroxyl group. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.