Bacterial epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed resolution of a 2,2-disubstituted oxirane: optimization and upscaling

The epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed resolution of (±)-2-methylglycidyl benzyl ether, a versatile chiral building block for the asymmetric synthesis of bioactive compounds, mediated by whole cells of Rhodococcus ruber SM 1789 was accomplished. Among various parameters (such as temperature, buffer type, pH and catalyst/substrate-ratio) an elevated substrate-concentration proved to be particularly sensitive with respect to a significant enhancement of the enantioselectivity.