METHOD OF PRODUCING MERCAPTANS BY ENZYMATIC HYDROGENOLYSIS OF DISULPHIDES Russian patent published in 2019 - IPC C07C319/06 C12P11/00 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of producing mercaptans of formula R-SH, comprising the following steps: a) preparing a mixture containing: 1) disulphide of formula R-S-S-R', where R and R', identical or different, independently from each other denote a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein said chain is saturated or has one or more unsaturation in form of double or triple bonds, R and R' are also capable of forming with each other and together with sulphur atoms to which they are bonded, a cyclic molecule containing from 4 to 22 atoms, preferably from 5 to 10 atoms, 2) a catalytic amount of an amino acid containing a thiol group or a peptide which contains a thiol group, 3) a catalytic amount of an enzyme which catalyses reduction of a disulphide bridge formed between two equivalents of said amino acid, having a thiol group, or said peptide containing a thiol group, 4) catalytic amount of enzyme catalyzing dehydrogenation of organic reducing agent used at step b), 5) catalytic amount of cofactor common for two enzymes catalyzing reduction and dehydrogenation, b) adding an organic reducing agent in a stoichiometric amount with respect to the disulphide of the R-S-S-R' formula, c) carrying out an enzymatic reaction, d) separating mercaptan of formula R-SH and mercaptan of formula R'-SH, e) optionally separating and optionally purifying mercaptan of formula R-SH and/or mercaptan of formula R'-SH.

EFFECT: disclosed is a method of producing mercaptans by enzymatic hydrogenolysis of disulphides.

12 cl, 1 dwg, 2 ex