Enzymatic enantioselective synthesis of (R)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-propionitrile by defatted apple seed meal

The enantioselective synthesis of (R)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-propionitrile by (R)-oxynitrilase contained in defatted apple seed meal in a biphasic system was successfully performed. The influences of some factors on the reaction were investigated systematically. Diisopropyl ether was found to be the best for this reaction among all the organic solvents examined. The optimal concentration of defatted apple seed meal, aqueous phase content, concentrations of acetyltrimethylsilane and acetone cyanohydrin, buffer pH, reaction temperature were 4% (W/V), 23% (V/V), 20 mmol ± L−1, 40 mmol ± L−1, pH = 5.0 and 40 °C, respectively, under which the initial reaction rate, substrate conversion and product enantiomeric excess were 9.4 mmol ± L−1 ± h−1, 99% and >99%, respectively.