New stereoselective synthesis of thiamphenicol and florfenicol from enantiomerically pure cyanohydrin: a chemo-enzymatic approach

摘要

Thiamphenicol and florfenicol have been synthesized stereoselectively from enantiomerically pure 4-methylsulfanyl-mandelonitrile, which was obtained by hydrocyanation reaction of 4-methylsulfanyl-benzaldehyde catalyzed by (R)-hydroxynitrile Iyase of Badamu (Prunus communis L. var. dulcis Borkh, almond from Xinjiang, China). It was found to be a highly effective bio-catalyst for this reaction after an extensive screening. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.