Bioproduction of (2R,3R)-3-Phenylglycidiol: A Key Chiral Synthon for Drugs Bearing 3-Phenylpropane Using a Newly-Isolated Strain of Aspergillus fumigatus ZJUTZQ160

Abstract

We report a novel and effective biosynthesis of (2R,3R)-3-phenylglycidiol using Aspergillus fumigatus ZJUTZQ160. After optimization of the biotransformation conditions, (2R,3R)-PG was obtained with good enantioselectivity (e.e. s [ 99.9 %, E [ 58.6). Gram-scale preparation of (2R,3R)-3-phenylglycidiol was successfully performed within 16 h (yield = 35.6 %, e.e. s [ 99.9 %), indicating that A. fumigatus ZJUTZQ160 is a valuable biocatalyst for the efficient preparation of optically active epoxides. The conversion of (2R,3R)-3-phenylglycidiol to optically pure (2S,3S)-3-azido-3-phenyl-propane-1,2-diol was also successfully achieved with excellent yield (92 %) and e.e. s ([94 %) after the nucleophilic substitution reaction with sodium azide.