A robust chemo-enzymatic lactone synthesis using acyltransferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis

The new application of acyltransferase, isolated from Mycobacterium smegmatis for the chemo-enzymatic Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones to lactones was demonstrated. Acyltransferase exhibited high activity, and high stability under harsh reaction conditions, like oxidation with 60% aq. H2O2 at 45 degrees C. This paves the way to a novel robust chemo-enzymatic method for lactone synthesis with high yields. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.