Straightforward Enzymatic Process Based an HNL CLEA-Catalysis towards Cyanohydrin Derivatives

An efficient enzymatic process based on HNL-CLEA catalysis in buffer-saturated organic media was developed to limit the amount of overall waste generated and the number of safety issues incurred by handling HCN-containing waste. Starting front benzaldehyde as a model substrate, (R)- and (S)-mandelonitrile can be obtained under these reaction conditions without in extraction step being required. The crude cyanohydrin intermediate was sufficiently pure to be used as starting material in a second step towards a range of derivatives.