ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses simple solutions for assembling the use of different types of hydrolases in chemoenzymatic routes for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Biocatalysis has acquired maturity in the twenty-first century since enzyme catalysis preserves the 12 principles of green chemistry, allowing the efficient production of agrochemicals, functionalised material, pharmaceuticals and high-added value products. Water is the natural medium for enzymes, although the possibility to move from aqueous medium to organic solvents has opened a myriad of possibilities. Desymmetrisation of strategies represent elegant and efficient access to enantiopure alcohols when starting from prochiral or meso-diesters, in this manner a theoretically 100% yield can be achieved. Valganciclovir hydrochloride is an anti-viral active pharmaceutical intermediate used in the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection associated with AIDS disease. Microbial epoxide hydrolases catalyse the addition of one molecule of water to epoxides, allowing their hydrolysis for the formation of the corresponding vicinal diols.
