Isolation of (S)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol assimilating bacterium, its characterization, and its use in preparation of (R)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol and (S)-epichlorohydrin

A bacterium that stereospecifically assimilates (S)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol was isolated from soil by enrichment culture. By taxonomic studies, the strain was identified asAlcaligenes sp. The bacterium could degrade and assimilate some chlorohydrins. Its cell-free extracts, which had dehalogenase and epoxyhydrolase activities, converted various halohydrins to the dehalogenated alcohols, and epoxides to the diols. This strain was similar to (R)-2-3-dichloro-1-propanol assimilating bacterium in degradation of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol, but had a somewhat different character. Optically pure (R)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol (100% e.e.) was isolated from the racemate using the stereospecific assimilation by the bacterium. Highly pure optically active (S)-epichlorohydrin (99.5% e.e.) was obtained by treatment with aqueous NaOH. The new isolate was also compared to the (R)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol assimilating bacterium.