(R)‐Selective Nitroaldol Reaction Catalyzed by Metal‐Dependent Bacterial Hydroxynitrile Lyases

The nitroaldol (Henry) reaction is a valuable C−C bond-forming reaction resulting in β-nitro alcohols, which are important building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. Metal-dependent bacterial hydroxynitrile lyases with a cupin fold couple nitromethane or nitroethane and various aldehydes to yield (R)-β-nitro alcohols with up to 90 % conversion and up to ≥99 % enantiomeric excess.