Dr H. Trauthwein, Degussa, Germany

Dr Trauthwein described the various chiral technologies that have been developed at Degussa. Biotechnologies discussed included acylases (-amino acids) and an extension of this technology to the synthesis of –amino acids, alternative “ester” hydrolases for dynamic kinetic resolution such as sulphatases, hydantoinases, the use of lipases in conjunction with organometallic complexes to improve the yield by recycling the off-enantiomer, oxidoreductases for reductive amination of keto-acids. This latter case included modifications to formate dehydrogenase enzyme (required for co-factor regeneration) and improvements to the reaction conditions such as using biphasic media.