Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis Using Whole Cells of Microorganisms and Isolated Enzymes

Abstract

It is intended to study the behavior of allylic alcohols in biocatalysis reactions employing whole cells of yeasts available in the collection of André Tosello Foundation microorganisms. It aims to enantioselective reduction of the C = C groups substituted with alkyls. It would be a method of bio-hydrogenation without the use of molecular hydrogen and free metals to generate primary alcohols containing stereogenic center at the ±, ²-carbon unsaturated primary alcohol. As a model substrate is used initially cinnamic alcohol and further derivatives geraniol and other essential oils.This project aims to continue the production of homochiral synthetic intermediates used in the synthesis of drugs and pheromones, containing one or more stereogenic elements through biocatalytic processes reduction of ketones and enones. Our recent contribution involved biorreduction of haloenonas. Also we are interested in the fermentation of sugars and derivatives for the production of compounds containing 2 to 4 carbons, such as ethanol, propionic acid and succinic acid in collaboration with Professor Drs. Gustavo Paim Valencia and José Roberto Nunhes the School of Chemical Engineering of Unicamp. In this context the project is divided into sub-projects according to the chemical structure of molecules to be synthesized. (AU)