A new enzymatic method of stereoselective oxidation of racemic 1,2-indandiols

Microorganisms degrading indan derivatives were screened from soil for stereoselective oxidation of racemic cis- or trans-1,2-indandiol into optically active 2-hydroxy-1-indanone. Three strains, which were identified taxonomically as Arthrobacter sp. strain 1HB and 1HE and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IN, showed high activity and stereoselectivity on the reaction. All the strains produced inducible enzymes responsible for the oxidation reaction, recognizing the stereochemistry of 1- or 2-positions of the diol regardless of their cis and trans geometry. By using the resting cells of the strains, which had been grown under the optimized conditions, both enantiomers of 2-hydroxy-1-indanone were synthesized in enantiomerically pure form only by selecting cis- or trans-1,2-indandiol as the substrate.