Practical Application of Recombinant Whole-Cell Biocatalysts for the Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Intermediates Such as Chiral Alcohols

We have developed efficient biocatalytic processes for the preparation of chiral alcohols, such as ( R )-1,3-butanediol, ethyl ( S )-4-chloro-3-hyroxybutanoate, ethyl ( R )-4-chloro-3-hyroxy-butanoate, ( S )-5-chloro-2-pentanol, ( R )-5-chloro-2-pentanol, and ( S )-cyclopropylethanol by stereospecific enzymatic oxidoreduction on a practical level. These chiral alcohols are very important synthons for the synthesis of various pharmaceutical intermediates that lead to antibiotics and inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase. Here, we present practical applications on biocatalysis using novel recombinant whole-cell biocatalysts that catalyzed enantioselective oxidation and asymmetric reduction with a coenzyme regeneration system.