Process for preparing optically active 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone and N-substituted 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones by enzymatic hydroxylation

摘要

This invention provides a process for the preparation of optically active 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone or N-substituted 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted regio- and stereoselectively into the corresponding non-hydroxylated 2-pyrrolidinones, by using, as a biocatalyst, a microorganism having hydroxylation activity, or a host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation enzymes derived from the said microorganism, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived from the above microorganisms. The microorganism may be selected from the group consisting of microorganisms that degrade alkanes or cyclic hydrocarbons, microorganisms having alkane hydroxylase(s), or microorganisms that are able to oxidize hydrocarbons.