Development of the Biocatalytic Resolution of 2-Azabicyclo(2.2.1)hept- 5-en-3-one as an Entry to Single-Enantiomer Carbocyclic Nucleosides.

Abstract For the resolution of the bicyclic lactam 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-one, efficient whole cell biocatalysts have been identified and from these, enzymes (lactamases) have been isolated. While the two enzymes obtained act on different enantiomers of the lactam, either can be used in scaleable processes to obtain synthons for carbocyclic nucleosides having the natural configuration.