Application of enzyme- and microorganism-catalyzed reactions to organic synthesis

Three topics of recent achievements in the application of enzyme- and microorganism-catalyzed reactions to organic synthesis are focused. 1) Asymmetric synthesis and enantiomeric resolution, such as yeast-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of a carbonyl group and hydrolytic enzyme - catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of esters and transesterification are described. Special emphasis is laid on the enzyme-catalyzed preparation of α-hydroxy acids in enantiomerically enriched forms. Examples of enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric C-C bond formation are shortly commented. 2) The advantage of enzymatic hydrolysis of nitriles, amides, and esters are introduced, as the examples of the transformation of functional groups under mild condition. 3) The complementary use of chemical and enzymatic reaction in the total scheme is shown, in our synthesis of pyrenophorin and N-glycolylneuraminic acid.