Production of (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile using microbial resolution

A new production procedure of (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile was developed using microbial resolution. The resting cells of Pseudomonas sp. OS-K-29 preferentially converted (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile to the corresponding 1,2-diol by the dehalogenating activity so that (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyronitrile (94.5 %ee) was obtained from the racemate in 40 % yield at the microbial resolution step.