Process Biotechnology
  

Microbial Biotechnology
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 11 No. 4, Issue of October 15, 2008
© 2008 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received June 22, 2007 / Accepted May 28, 2008
DOI: 10.2225/vol11-issue4-fulltext-3
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Biocatalytic oxidative kinetic resolution of (±)-4-(chlorophenyl)phenylmethanol by Nocardia corallina B-276 

Mario A. Ramírez
 Departamento Sistemas Biológicos
Unidad Xochimilco
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Calz. del Hueso No. 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Deleg. Coyoacán, 04960
México, DF., México
Tel: 52 55 54 83 72 55
Fax: 52 55 54 83 73 54
E-mail: marioqfb@yahoo.com.mx

Herminia I. Pérez*
 Departamento Sistemas Biológicos
Unidad Xochimilco
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Calz. del Hueso No. 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Deleg. Coyoacán, 04960
México, DF., México
Tel: 52 55 54 83 72 5
Fax: 52 55 54 83 73 54
E-mail: hperez@correo.xoc.uam.mx  

Norberto Manjarrez
 Departamento Sistemas Biológicos
Unidad Xochimilco
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Calz. del Hueso No. 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Deleg. Coyoacán, 04960
México, DF., México
Tel: 52 55 54 83 72 55
Fax: 52 55 54 83 73 54
E-mail: maan@correo.xoc.uam.mx

Aida Solís
 Departamento Sistemas Biológicos
Unidad Xochimilco
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Calz. del Hueso No. 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Deleg. Coyoacán, 04960
México, DF., México
Tel: 52 55 54 83 72 55
Fax: 52 55 54 83 72 37
E-mail: asolis@correo.xoc.uam.mx

Héctor Luna
 Departamento Sistemas Biológicos
Unidad Xochimilco
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Calz. del Hueso No. 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Deleg. Coyoacán, 04960
México DF., México
Tel: 52 55 54 83 72 55
Fax: 52 55 54 83 72 37
E-mail: lchm1964@correo.xoc.uam.mx  

Julia Cassani
 Departamento Sistemas Biológicos
Unidad Xochimilco
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Calz. del Hueso No. 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Deleg. Coyoacán, 04960
México DF., México
Tel: 52 55 54 83 72 55
Fax: 52 55 54 83 72 37
E-mail: cassani@correo.xoc.uam.mx

*Corresponding author

Financial support: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT), México, Grant No.37272-N and Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México.

Keywords: 4-chlorobenzophenone, biocatalysis, microbial oxidation, resolution.

Abbreviations:

ATCC: American Type Culture Collection
DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide
ee: enantiomeric excess
GC: gas chromatography
HPLC: high pressure liquid chromatography
IR: infrared spectroscopy
NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance
OD: optical density
TLC: thin layer chromatography
vvm: aereation rate
Abstract   Full Text

Chiral diarylmethanols are versatile building blocks for the preparation of biologically active substances, but they are difficult to obtain in enantiopure form. We used Nocardia corallina B-276 for the oxidative kinetic resolution of (±)-4-(chlorophenyl)phenylmethanol, 1. Two experimental methods were used: 1) Suspension of cells in a phosphate buffer solution and 2) Cells in the culture media, in a 3-L bioreactor. After 36 hrs using the first method, the ketone/alcohol ratio was 56/44 and the unoxidized alcohol had an enantiomeric ratio of 93/7, predominating the R-alcohol.
Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network