Bioconversion of substituted styrenes to the corresponding enantiomerically pure epoxides by a recombinant Escherichia coli strain

Enantiomerically pure epoxides are produced by bioconversion of the corresponding styrenes using a recombinant Escherichia coli strain containing the styrene monooxygenase gene cloned from Pseudomonas fluorescens ST. Different procedures were used to optimise yields and to permit product isolation. Conversion rates depend on the position and nature of the styrene substituent.