Rationalisation of the regioselective hydrolysis of aliphatic dinitriles with Rhodococcus rhodochrous AJ270

Abstract

Aliphatic dinitriles undergo regioselective hydrolysis with the title organism to give monoacids with up to four methylenes between the nitrile functions (optimally 2–3) or when either an oxygen is placed β, γ or δ to the nitrile (δ-placement being optimal) or β or γ (optimally γ) but not δ sulfur substituents are present; nitrogen substituents appear to behave as for oxygen but suffer a steric limitation of the size of the nitrogen substituent.