Enzymatic synthesis of optically active 2-methyl- and 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acids and their derivatives

Catalyzed by Rhodococcus sp. AJ270 microbial cells under very mild conditions, racemic 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarbonitrile (1) and its amide (2), and trans- and cis-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxamides (4) and (7) underwent enantioselective hydrolysis to give the corresponding optically active amides and acids.