Microbial-catalysed resolution of sterically demanding cyanohydrins

Mycelia containing carboxyl-esterases, a novel source of enzymes, have been investigated in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of one type of tert-alcohols, α,α-disubstituted cyanohydrins. This class of enzymes was found to be both active and selective towards these tert-alcohols, giving E-values as high as 42.