Biocatalytic racemisation of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids at physiological conditions

Abstract

Biocatalytic racemisation of aliphatic, aryl-aliphatic and aromatic α-hydroxycarboxylic acids was accomplished using whole resting cells of Lactobacillus paracasei DSM 20207; the mild (physiological) reaction conditions ensured an essentially ‘clean’ isomerization in the absence of side reactions, such as elimination or decomposition.