Abstract: | Whole cells of Rhodococcus equi A4 chemoselectively hydrolyzed methyl (R,S)-3-benzoyloxy-4-cyanobutanoate and methyl (R,S)-3-benzyloxy-4-cyanobutanoate into monomethyl (R,S)-3-benzoyloxyglutarate and monomethyl (R,S)-3-benzyloxyglutarate, respectively. The intermediates of the biotransformations were the corresponding amides which were also obtained using the purified nitrile hydratase from the same microorganism. |