Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enantioselective enzymatic transamination of (1R)-1-Hydroxy-1-Phenylacetone (R-PAC) to a chiral amine 1R, 2S-Norephedrine in the presence of an isopropylamine catalyzed by enantioselective transaminase. Isopropylamine is converted to acetone in the process. The transaminase used is in completely purified form, partially purified form or as whole cells. The source is microbial cells, which are genetically engineered. In the present invention, the enzyme is expressed in E. coli and used preferentially as a suspension of native cells. Transaminase comprising polypeptide sequence is obtained from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and expressed in E. coli. The nucleotide sequence of transaminase is expressed in an expression vector system pIEP/Kan/IEP AT12, which is incorporated in E. coli. The yield of 1R, 2S-1-norephedrine is greater than 87% and de % is greater than 99%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of production of optically active chiral amine from alpha hydroxy ketone using enzyme transaminase as the biocatalyst. In particular the present invention relates to production of (1R, 2S)-Norephedrine and its salts from R-Phenylacetylcarbinol (R-PAC) by employing S-transaminase as the biocatalyst and Isopropylamine as the amine donor.