Process for the preparation of enantiometric 2-alkanoic acid amides from nitriles

摘要

This invention relates to the enantioselective biologically-catalyzed hydrolysis of certain racemic nitriles to the corresponding R- or S-amides, chemically or biologically-catalyzed hydrolysis of the amides to the corresponding R- or S-acids in a batch process or in a continuous process that employs racemization and recycling of enantiomeric nitrile intermediates, the racemic nitriles being selected from the group, A-C(R1)(R2)CN, wherein A, R1 and R2 are as defined in the text, as well as certain biological materials employed to catalyze the process.