Biocatalytic preparation of chiral epichlorohydrins using recombinant Pichia pastoris expressing epoxide hydrolase of Rhodotorula glutinis

The use of enantioselective hydrolysis for preparing chiral epichlorohydrins was investigated using recombinant Pichia pastoris with the enantioselective epoxide hydrolase of Rhodotorula glutinis. The rate of the recombinant epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic epichlorohydrins was enhanced by the addition of 5% (v/v) Tween 20. Enantiopure (R)-epichlorohydrins with an enantiopurity of 100% ee and a yield of 26% were obtained within 5 min from 50 mM racemates.