Enzymic Conversion of Racemates into Aminoacid Enantiomers

The present state of the art and prospects for further development in the employment of enzymes for the resolution of aminoacid racemates or the conversion of racemates of a series of chemical compounds into optically pure aminoacids are considered. A comparative survey of studies involving the use of aminoacylases, proteases, hydantoinases, α-aminocaprolactam hydrolase, and a number of other enzymes for the preparation of L- and D- aminoacids has been carried out. Examples are presented of processes involving the enzymic resolution of racemates on an industrial scale. The kinetic and thermodynamic features of the enzymic reactions employed have been analysed in detail and the limits in the employment of a particular enzyme for the conversion of racemates into optically pure aminoacids are accounted for.
The bibliography includes 288 references.