BASF with new class of enzymes for production of chiral intermediates
BASF has developed a new class of enzymes that can be utilized for the industrial production of chiral intermediates: these specifically modified biocatalysts, which the companies has patented, are called enoate reductases. The asymmetric bioreactions catalyzed by enoate reductases take place at low temperatures and standard pressure and, by being highly selective, yield particularly high-quality products. According to the company, this allows a very efficient process for producing chemically sophisti-cated chiral molecules of outstanding optical purity. Examples include esters and aldehydes, which serve as starting materials in the pro-duction of active pharmaceutical and agrochemical ingredients.
Enoate reductases complement BASF's portfolio of enzymes, to date comprised of dehydrogenases, nitrilases and lipases. They are ob-tained from various organisms, for example yeasts like beer yeast, and from plants like tomato and tobacco.
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