Enantioselective Hydrolysis of (RS)-2-Isopropyl-4′-chlorophenylacetonitrile byPseudomonassp. B21C9

Pseudomonas sp. B21C9, a new nitrile-degrading microorganism, was isolated from a soil sample. By the hydrolysis of (RS)-iso-propyl- 4´-chlorophenylacetonitrile using cells of B21C9, (S)-2- isopropyl-4´ -chlorophenylacetic acid having excellent optically purity could be obtained. It appeared that the microbial hydrolysis proceeded via stepwise reactions by a nitrile hydratase having poor (S)-selectivity and an amidase having strict (S)-selectivity