Microbial Hydrogenation of Nitroolefins

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Microorganisms which hydrogenate 2-nitro-1-phenyl-1-propene were screened in type cultures and soil samples. Some actinomycetes belonging to Rhodococcus, Nocardia and Mycobacterium asymmetrically reduced the substrate and gave optically active 2-nitro-1-phenylpropane. Among them, Rhodococcus rhodochrous IFO 3338 gave the best results. The saturated compound was obtained quantitatively, when cultivation was carried out for 3 days at 30°C with a substrate concentration of 0.4%. The optical purity of the product was seriously affected by the pH of the medium. The more acidic the medium, the higher the enantiomeric excess. The results suggested that non-enzymatic racemization of the product takes place even under neutral conditions. Other substrates, such as 2-nitro-1-propene were also converted to optically active 2-nitro-1-substituted propane.