High-yield production of optically active 1,2-diols from the corresponding racemates by microbial stereoinversion.

A novel method for producing optically active 1,2-diols by microbial stereoinversion was developed.It was found that some microorganisms could convert only (7?)-l,2-pentanediol in the raeemate to the (S)-enantiomer.Candida patapsilosis produced 27.9 g/1 of (S)-l,2-pentanediol from 30g/l of the raeemate in 24hr of reaction (molar yield 93%, enantiomeric excess 100%).This stereoinversion proceeded via oxidation of (/?)-l,2-pentanediol to l-hydroxy-2-pentanone by an NAD+ -linked (/?)-specific alcohol dehydrogenase and reduction of l-hydroxy-2-pentanone to ( 5)-l,2pentanediol by an NADPH-linked (S)-spedfic 2-keto-l-alcohol reductase.This microbial stereoinversion was applicable to ten 1,2-diols.Optically active 1,2-diols prepared by the reaction had the same configuration at the chiral center.