Abstract:
The invention relates to a preferably continuous process for the preparation of R- or S-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid in very high enantiomeric purity, which comprises reducing 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid with the enzyme D-lactate dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus epidermidis or with the enzyme L-lactate dehydrogenase from bovine heart, respectively, in the presence of NAD(H) and formate or ethanol and formate dehydrogenase or alcohol dehydrogenase, respectively. R-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid is a valuable intermediate in the preparation of ACE inhibitors or their precursors.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a one-step microbial process for the preparation of 13.beta.-hydroxy- or 14,15-epoxy-milbemycins of the following formulae I and II ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.1 ' represent methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or sec.-butyl or represent the group ##STR2## in which X represents methyl, ethyl or isopropyl, and A and A' represent the group ##STR3## in which R.sub.2 represents hydrogen, --C(O)-CH.sub.2 O-C(O)-CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -COOH or --C(O)-CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -COOH, or mixtures of compounds of the formulae I and II, which process comprises bringing a milbemycin of the formula III ##STR4## dissolved in a liquid phase, in which R.sub.3 represents R.sub.1 or R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.4 represents A or A', and R.sub.1, R.sub.1 ', A and A' have the meanings given for formulae I and II, into contact with a microorganism that is capable of 13.beta.-hydroxylation or 14,15-epoxidation or of both reactions, or into contact with active constituents thereof. The microorganism or its active constituents may be either in free form or immobilized form.