Enantioselective oxidation of mandelic acid using a phenylmalonate metabolizing pathway of a soil bacteriumAlcaligenes bronchisepticus KU 1201

Summary The metabolic pathway of phenylmalonic acid byAlcaligenes bronchisepticus KU1201, which catalyzes the asymmetric decarboxylation of -aryl--methylmalonic acids to -arylpropionic acids, is demonstrated. Enantioselective oxidation of mandelic acid was investigated using the metabolizing pathway in this strain. Incubation of (±)-mandelic acid withA. bronchisepticus afforded optically pure (R)-one accompanied by benzoylformic acid and benzoic acid. This enzymatic oxidation is also applicable to various substituted mandelic acids.