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Biocatalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral alkenes without proximate coordinating functionability

Reference	E08252
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Gillian Stephens
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr John Gardiner
Institution	The University of Manchester
Department	Chem Eng and Analytical Science
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	278,933
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	19/01/1998
End date	19/01/2001
Duration	36 months

Abstract

New biocatalysts will be developed for asymmetric hydrogenation of alkenes to provide access to new chiral building blocks. The target substrates will contain synthetically useful functionalities such as nitro, nitrile, halide, aldehyde and alcohol, and will include alkenes with remote functionality. We propose to use an unusual group of anaerobic bacteria as the biocatalysts. The organisms can use alkenes as the electron acceptor for oxidation of the energy source for growth. Previous research has shown that the organisms are much more efficient than the existing types of biocatalysts and are also more suitable for use in industrial biotransformation processes. Furthermore, it is possible to selectively isolate strains with novel substrate specificities. The research programme will include the identification of the required biocatalysts by screening existing strains of alkene-reducing bacteria and by isolating new strains. Further improvement of catalytic activity, substrate specificity and reaction selectivity will be achieved by directed evolution experiments in continuous culture. The resulting biocatalysts will be used to prepare the new chiral building blocks in bulk for synthetic elaboration to demonstrate their industrial utility.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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