A biocatalytic cascade process was developed using immobilized cells of the wild type yeast Candida albicans CCT 0776 in calcium alginate beads and a commercially available ketoreductase. The aim was to promote deracemization by stereoinversion of (±)-1-arylethanols in high substrate concentration (above 100 mmol L-1) to prepare the (R)-enantiomers of the alcohols (90-99%), with a high enantiomeric excess (83-99%) after 2 to 19 h. The (R)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethanol, with 70% yield and 91% ee, obtained after 5 h was used to prepare (S)-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-ethylamine with 60% yield and 91% ee after two steps, a key intermediate in the synthesis of (S)-rivastigmine.

Condensações de Knoevenagel de aldeídos aromáticos com 4-cloro-3-oxobutanoato de etila catalisadas por morfolina/ácido acético foram conduzidas em líquidos iônicos para fornecerem 2-cloroacetil-3-arilpropenoatos de etila em 44 a 84% de rendimentos após 0,5 a 2 h à temperatura ambiente (25-28 ºC). Estas condições representam um protocolo mais verde para a condensação de Knoevenagel do que aquelas realizadas com refluxo de benzeno e tolueno, utilizados como solventes. Aldeídos aromáticos contendo grupos arila, 4-clorofenila, 4-metoxifenila, 2-tiofuranila, 2-furanila, fenila e 3,4-metilenodioxifenila apresentaram razões diastereoméricas (E)/(Z) de 56/44 a 85/15. A estrutura do isômero-(E) do 2-cloroacetil-3-(3',4'-metilenodioxifenil)propenoato de etila foi determinada por difração de raio X, e uma metodologia inequívoca da análise estrutural-(E)/(Z) por RMN de 13C (ressonância magnética nuclear) é apresentada.

Knoevenagel condensations of aromatic aldehydes with ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate catalyzed by morpholine/acetic acid were carried out in ionic liquids to give ethyl 2-chloroacetyl-3-arylpropenoates in 44-84% yield after 0.5 to 2 h at room temperature (25-28 ºC). These conditions represent a greener protocol for the Knoevenagel condensation than those using refluxing benzene or toluene as solvent. Aromatic aldehydes having aryl groups 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 2-thiofuranyl, 2-furanyl, phenyl and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl gave (E)/(Z) diastereomeric ratios of products from 56/44 to 85/15. The two isomers of each compound were separately isolated and characterized. The structure of the (E)-isomer of ethyl 2-chloroacetyl-3-(3',4' methylenedioxyphenyl)propenoate was determined by X-ray crystallography and an unequivocal methodology of (E)/(Z)-structural analysis by 13C NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) is presented.

Fosfolipase A2 colhida da serpente Crotalus durissus terrificus foi empregada pela primeira vez para testar sua enantiosseletividade na hidrólise de diferentes ésteres não-naturais. Foi observado que a estrutura desta pequena enzima tem sua ação lipase dependente da escolha dos substratos não-naturais. Foram usadas duas formas da enzima; livre e como agregado enzimático formado com ligações cruzadas, CLEA. Com todos os substratos, a enzima livre mostrou atividade similar a da preparada CLEA. A vantagem da fosfolipase CLEA é que permite sua reutilização em várias reações consecutivas sem demonstrar diminuição de atividade e seletividade, propiciando rendimentos bons e superiores, e ee similares quando comparados com os da enzima livre.

Phospholipase A2 from the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus was employed for the first time to test its enantioseletivity on the hydrolysis of different non-natural esters. It was observed that the structure of this small enzyme is restrictive in the choice of its lipase action with non-natural substrates. Two forms of the enzyme were used; free and as its cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA). With all substrates, the free enzyme showed activity similar to the CLEA preparation. The advantage of the CLEA phospholipase is the possibility to reuse it in several consecutive reactions without a decrease of activity and selectivity with good but higher yields and ee than with the free enzyme.

A sugar cane mill is at the present moment a modest biorefinery producing few products such as sugar, ethanol and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). In the near future, this mill can expand its production using several renewable feedstock's to produce biofuels and high value biobased chemicals. However, the choice of appropriate products for addition to the portfolio is challenged by a lack of broad-based conversion technology coupled with a plethora of potential targets. The intent of this revision was to catalyze research efforts to expand the list of products and to present an updated evaluation of potential target structures for chemical production.

The fact that biologically relevant molecules exist only as one of the two enantiomers is a fascinating example of complete symmetry breaking of chirality and has long intrigued our curiosity. The origin of this selective chirality has remained a fundamental enigma with regard to the origin of life since the time of Pasteur, 160 years ago. The symmetry breaking processes, which include autocatalytic crystallization, asymmetric autocatalysis, spontaneous crystallization, adsorption and polymerization of amino acids on mineral surfaces, provide new insights into the origin of biomolecular homochirality.

Baker's yeast has been successful employed to reduce carbonyl compounds carrying appropriated substituents at distances under the electronic influence of the keto group. High yields and enantiomeric excess (ee) were obtained with 1,2-alkanedione, 1,2-alkanedione (2-O-methyloxime) and 1,3-alkanedione. Potential chiral building blocks were obtained and applied for stereoselective synthesis of valuable compounds. Evidence for a free radical chain process was obtained with baker's yeast reduction of a-iodoacetophenone using radical inhibitors.

The work here presented was based on 4th International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Biotransformations "BIOTRANS '99" held in Giardini - Naxos, Italy, from september 26 to October 1, 1999. Some of the lectures presented during the congress will be comented which exemplifies the technological inovations and the actual tendencies in the area of biocatalysis.

A very short-strong hydrogen bond (<2 Å, >20kcal/mol) is found in the monoanion of certain dicarboxylic acids derived from maleic and dialkylmalonic acids. Certain aromatic diamines that are known as proton sponge have exceptionally high basicity (pKa) and are only monoprotonated with strong acids like percloric acid. The closed proximity between the two basic centers provokes a strong steric interaction that is relieved upon protonation. Similar effects are found in dicarboxylic acids (hydrogen maleate and hydrogen dialkylmalonates) that present a very short distance between the two oxygens and a short-strong hydrogen bond.