Nitrite-mediated hydrolysis of epoxides catalyzed by halohydrin dehalogenase from Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1:: a new tool for the kinetic resolution of epoxides

Halohydrin dehalogenase obtained from Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1, has been tested for the nitrite-mediated ring opening of epoxides. This reaction mainly leads to the formation of unstable hydroxynitrite ester intermediates, which can be further hydrolyzed to the corresponding diols. This conversion proceeds with high enantioselectivity and high regioselectivity towards styrene oxide derivatives. It has been concluded that halohydrin dehalogenase can serve as ail attractive alternative to epoxide hydrolases in the preparation of enantiopure epoxides by kinetic resolution. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.