METHOD OF SYNTHESIS OF α-HYDROXYACIDS USING NOVEL MICROORGANISM AND NOVEL MICROORGANISM Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: organic chemistry, biotechnology, microbiology. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to synthesis of α-hydroxyacids and involves, in part, preparing α- hydroxyacids represented by the general formula [II]: RCH(OH)COOH where R means hydrogen atom, optionally substituted C₁-C₆-alkyl, optionally substituted C₂-C₆-alkenyl, optionally substituted C₁-C₆-alkoxyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted arylhydroxy-group or optionally substituted heterocycle as result of action of microorganism on α-hydroxynitriles of the formula [I]: RCH(OH)CN (where R is given above). The process involves hydrolysis and conversion of α-hydroxynitriles to α- hydroxyacids of the formula [II] and α-hydroxyacids [II] are accumulated in an aqueous solution. Microorganism showing concentration resistance to α-hydroxynitriles [I] and/or α-hydroxyacids [II] and stability in the presence of cyanide is used as microorganism. Then the end product is isolated from reaction medium. Variovarax spp., Arthrobacter spp. and especially the strain Arthrobacter NSSC 104 are used as the above mentioned microorganisms exhibiting concentration resistance to α-hydroxynitriles [I] and α-hydroxyacids [II] and sufficiently high stability. This gives a possibility to accumulate α- hydroxyacids [II] in high concentration, i. e. to provide their effective preparing. Addition of cyanide to reaction system providing one of variant of method results to the more effective preparing α- hydroxyacids [II]. EFFECT: improved preparing method. 15 cl, 4 tbl