Highly enantioselective synthesis of α,α-disubstituted malonamic acids through asymmetric hydrolysis of dinitriles with Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: full experimental details. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b2/b210743k/

Abstract

Highly enantioselective hydrolysis of α,α-disubstituted malononitriles by the strain Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497 expressing both nitrile hydratase and amidase activity to give (R)-α,α-disubstituted malonamic acids which could be converted to valuable (R)- or (S)-α-alkylated amino acids are reported and the yields of the products are improved remarkably at a lower reaction temperature.