Author Description

A strategy for the enantioselective synthesis of chiral shortchain alcohols using biocatalysis is developed employingsubstrate and enzyme dependent in situ cofactorregeneration. Enzyme characterization shows strongdependence of activity on diverse reaction parameters. Theobtained results are transferred to one-phase batch synthesisof (R)- and (S)-2-butanol where conversion andenantioselectivity are strongly dependend on reactionconditions. Due to limitations like low substrate solubility thesynthesis is transferred to two-phase reaction systems whereMTBE is the solvent of choice. Conversion and selectivity arepositively influenced. The same is found for two-phasereactions in a continuous reaction set-up. With the optimumreaction conditions obtained from the batch experimentsconversion and selectivity are improved. ADH and cofactorshow exceptionally high stability and high TTN. Together withfurther development of a work-up strategy the continuoustwo-phase reaction set-up will be a strong tool to produceenantiopure short chain alcohols on preparative relevantscale.