MICROBIOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR STEREOSELECTIVELY SYNTHESIZING L(-)-CARNITINE

摘要

A microbiological process is disclosed for stereoselec tively synthesizing L(-)-carnitine starting from an optically inactive precursor, which comprises contacting in a reaction medium an unsaturated compound selected from the group comprising crotonoylbetaine; crotonoylbetaine nitrile; salts, esters and amides of crotonoylbetaine with a microorganism capable of stereoselectively hydroxylating the unsaturated compound to L(-)-carnitine, the microorganism being a member of at least one strain of the genera Escherichia, sp. Coli; Salmonella; Shigella: Citrobacter; Clostridium; Hafnia and Proteus.