Author(s)

Seelam Siva Deepthi, Ernala Prasad, Basireddy Venkata Subba Reddy, Bojja Sreedhar, Adari Bhaskar Rao

Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, India.
Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, India.
Natural Products Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, India.

Enantiopure epoxides and their corresponding chiral vicinal diols serve as valuable intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active pharma and agro-compounds and also value added fine chemicals. Biocatalysts are well known for their selective hydrolysis of racemic epoxides to give optically pure chiral diols. This study highlights an efficient process of synthesis of chiral vicinal diols in good yields and enantioselectiviy using horse radish peroxidase enzyme immobilized on the amine functionalized magnetic nano particles (Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles) as enzyme carriers. It also facilitates separation of MNP-immobilized enzymes by applying external magnetic field. The immobilization of magnetic nano particles was confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The MNP-immobilized peroxidase enzyme improved stability of the enzyme and has shown broader substrate specificity in enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic epoxides, under mild and environmentally friendly conditions. The methodology MNP-immobilized enzyme developed in the synthesis of chiral diols has a potential for use in large-scale applications.

Magnetic Nanoparticles; Horseradish Peroxidase; Immobilization; Vicinal-Diols

S. Siva Deepthi, E. Prasad, B. Venkata Subba Reddy, B. Sreedhar and A. Bhaskar Rao, "A Green Approach towards the Synthesis of Enantio Pure Diols Using Horse Radish Peroxidase Enzyme Immobilized on Magnetic Nanoparticles," Green and Sustainable Chemistry, Vol. 4 No. 1, 2014, pp. 15-19. doi: 10.4236/gsc.2014.41003.