ABSTRACT

Successful application of biocatalyst for organic transformations in industries depends on factors that include availability of suitable enzyme, ease of up-and downstream processing, competition with established chemical methods, time required for process development, biocatalyst disposal, possible perception of the technologists and engineers, and government regulations. Biocatalysis is used primarily to carry out two distinct types of transformation, namely, ones in which pairs of enantiomers are resolved from each other and others in which a racemic compound is stereoselectively transformed into a single isomer derivative. Chiro Techs’ process for the specialty analgesic(s)-(+)-naproxen where bioresolution is followed by recycle of the unwanted isomer is an example showing the use of biocatalytic route.