Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds

<p>The aim of this thesis was to improve the understanding of how bacteria (in particular Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21) use enzymatic reactions to biotransform nitrile compounds. Particular emphasis was given to some compounds of potential interest to the pharmaceutical industry.</p>...

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Main Author: Dadd, MR
Other Authors: Knowles, C
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2000
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author Dadd, MR
author2 Knowles, C
author_facet Knowles, C
Dadd, MR
author_sort Dadd, MR
collection OXFORD
description <p>The aim of this thesis was to improve the understanding of how bacteria (in particular Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21) use enzymatic reactions to biotransform nitrile compounds. Particular emphasis was given to some compounds of potential interest to the pharmaceutical industry.</p> <p>Due to the difficulty in selectively converting one cyano group of a polynitrile by conventional chemical techniques, regioselectivity of Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21 was investigated using (cyanomethyl) benzonitrile compounds. Depending on the induction/growth conditions and the position of ring substitution of the substrate, different products were obtained following the biotransformation. For example, bacteria grown/induced on propionitrile or benzonitrile converted the substrate 2-(cyanomethyl) benzonitrile to 2-(cyanophenyl) acetic acid- with a 64 % yield compared to the starting substrate. Conversely, bacteria grown on acetonitrile converted the same substrate to a mixture of amide intermediates but at very low yield. Furthermore, the aliphatic cyano group of 2-(cyanomethyl) benzonitrile was preferentially hydrolysed. In the case of 3- and 4-(cyanomethyl) benzonitrile, the aromatic cyano group was converted to the acid thereby suggesting ring substitution was an important factor in the biotransformation.</p> <p>Initial rate studies were undertaken in order to greater understand the biotransformations. The results suggested that steric hindrance influenced the reaction. Furthermore, when there was a cyano or bromo group in the ortho position of the aromatic ring it was found that there was an in increase in the initial rate of hydrolysis, suggesting these groups also affect the enzymatic reaction.</p> <p>In addition, PCR and Southern blot techniques were used to investigate the presence of nitrile hydrolysing enzymes in a range of bacteria.</p> <p>Mid infrared spectroscopy was carried out to study the enzyme kinetics involved in nitrile biotransformations permitting, for the first time, nitrile biotransformations to be monitored in real-time. This opens up React IR MP as a useful technique for studying a wide range of biocatalytic processes in real-time. Bioconversion of prochiral nitriles was also undertaken using Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21. The results suggested that the bacterium could biotransform these nitriles and, with further chemical rearrangement, could yield novel compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical industry.</p> <p>Finally, the biotransformation of benzonitrile was undertaken in the presence of hydroxylamine (NH2OH), which is more nucleophilic than water. Interestingly, when bacteria were grown on benzonitrile (to induce the nitrilase enzyme) the hydroxylamine competed with the water and the novel product, benzohydroxamic acid, was foiuied. Furthermore, the abiotic control afforded another product benzamide oxime.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:0367472a-ccb5-4540-abae-7ed143bc273c2023-10-24T15:52:20ZChiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compoundsThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:0367472a-ccb5-4540-abae-7ed143bc273cEnglishORA42000Dadd, MRKnowles, C<p>The aim of this thesis was to improve the understanding of how bacteria (in particular Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21) use enzymatic reactions to biotransform nitrile compounds. Particular emphasis was given to some compounds of potential interest to the pharmaceutical industry.</p> <p>Due to the difficulty in selectively converting one cyano group of a polynitrile by conventional chemical techniques, regioselectivity of Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21 was investigated using (cyanomethyl) benzonitrile compounds. Depending on the induction/growth conditions and the position of ring substitution of the substrate, different products were obtained following the biotransformation. For example, bacteria grown/induced on propionitrile or benzonitrile converted the substrate 2-(cyanomethyl) benzonitrile to 2-(cyanophenyl) acetic acid- with a 64 % yield compared to the starting substrate. Conversely, bacteria grown on acetonitrile converted the same substrate to a mixture of amide intermediates but at very low yield. Furthermore, the aliphatic cyano group of 2-(cyanomethyl) benzonitrile was preferentially hydrolysed. In the case of 3- and 4-(cyanomethyl) benzonitrile, the aromatic cyano group was converted to the acid thereby suggesting ring substitution was an important factor in the biotransformation.</p> <p>Initial rate studies were undertaken in order to greater understand the biotransformations. The results suggested that steric hindrance influenced the reaction. Furthermore, when there was a cyano or bromo group in the ortho position of the aromatic ring it was found that there was an in increase in the initial rate of hydrolysis, suggesting these groups also affect the enzymatic reaction.</p> <p>In addition, PCR and Southern blot techniques were used to investigate the presence of nitrile hydrolysing enzymes in a range of bacteria.</p> <p>Mid infrared spectroscopy was carried out to study the enzyme kinetics involved in nitrile biotransformations permitting, for the first time, nitrile biotransformations to be monitored in real-time. This opens up React IR MP as a useful technique for studying a wide range of biocatalytic processes in real-time. Bioconversion of prochiral nitriles was also undertaken using Rhodococcus rhodochrous LL100-21. The results suggested that the bacterium could biotransform these nitriles and, with further chemical rearrangement, could yield novel compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical industry.</p> <p>Finally, the biotransformation of benzonitrile was undertaken in the presence of hydroxylamine (NH2OH), which is more nucleophilic than water. Interestingly, when bacteria were grown on benzonitrile (to induce the nitrilase enzyme) the hydroxylamine competed with the water and the novel product, benzohydroxamic acid, was foiuied. Furthermore, the abiotic control afforded another product benzamide oxime.</p>
spellingShingle Dadd, MR
Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
title Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
title_full Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
title_fullStr Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
title_full_unstemmed Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
title_short Chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
title_sort chiral biotransformations of cyclic nitrile compounds
work_keys_str_mv AT daddmr chiralbiotransformationsofcyclicnitrilecompounds