Enantioselective synthesis of chiral cyclopropane compounds through microbial transformations of trans-2-arylcyclopropanecarbonitriles

Enantioselective biotransformations of racemic trans-2-arylcyclopropanecarbonitriles catalyzed by Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 cells proceeded efficiently to give good to excellent optical yields of (−)-(1R,2R)-2-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides and (+)-(1S,2S)-2-arylcyclopropanecarboxylic acids, which were converted into optically active cyclopropylmethylamine and cyclopropylamine derivatives upon reduction and the Curtius rearrangement.