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. 1991 Oct;57(10):3028–3032. doi: 10.1128/aem.57.10.3028-3032.1991

Production of R-(-)-mandelic acid from mandelonitrile by Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 8750.

K Yamamoto 1, K Oishi 1, I Fujimatsu 1, K Komatsu 1
PMCID: PMC183915  PMID: 1660699

Abstract

R-(-)-Mandelic acid was produced from racemic mandelonitrile by Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 8750. Ammonium acetate or L-glutamic acid as the carbon source and n-butyronitrile as the inducer in the culture medium were effective for bacterial growth and the induction of R-(-)-mandelic acid-producing activity. The R-(-)-mandelic acid formed from mandelonitrile by resting cells was present in a 100% enantiomeric excess. A. faecalis ATCC 8750 has an R-enantioselective nitrilase for mandelonitrile and an amidase for mandelamide. As R-(-)-mandelic acid was produced from racemic mandelonitrile in a yield of 91%, whereas no S-mandelonitrile was left, the S-mandelonitrile remaining in the reaction is spontaneously racemized because of the chemical equilibrium and is used as the substrate. Consequently, almost all the mandelonitrile is consumed and converted to R-(-)-mandelic acid. R-(-)-Mandelic acid was also produced when benzaldehyde plus HCN was used as the substrate.

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Selected References

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