Enantioselective oxidation of mandelic acid using a phenylmalonate metabolizing pathway of a soil bacterium Alcaligenesbronchisepticus KU 1201

The metabolic pathway of phenylmalonic acid by Alcaligenesbronchisepticus KU1201, which catalyzes the asymmetric decarboxylation of α-aryl-α-methylmalonic acids to α-arylpropionic acids, is demonstrated. Enantioselective oxidation of mandelic acid was investigated using the metabolizing pathway in this strain. Incubation of (±)-mandelic acid with A.bronchisepticus afforded optically pure (R)-one accompanied by benzoylformic acid and benzoic acid. This enzymatic oxidation is also applicable to various substituted mandelic acids.