Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system and a process for stereoselectively inverting a chiral center of a chemical compound. The catalyst system of the present invention comprises (i) a catalytic amount of a metal catalyst; (ii) an enzyme capable of oxidizing a chemical compound at a chiral center, or microorganism cells capable of producing an enzyme which is capable of oxidizing a chemical compound at a chiral center; (iii) an oxidant; and (iv) a hydrogen source. The process of the present invention comprises treating a chemical compound having a chiral center with the catalyst system of this invention.

Abstract: A process for making natural and unnatural amino acids which comprises reacting a first amino acid, a keto acid and a transaminase enzyme under conditions appropriate to produce a second amino acid and pyruvate; reacting the pyruvate with acetolactate synthase under conditions appropriate to produce a compound that does not react with the transaminase enzyme and separating the second amino acid.

Abstract: The regioselective and chemoselective hydrolysis of an .alpha.-ester group of an amino acid diester using pig liver esterase enzyme (PLE) is disclosed. The amino acid diesters may be either N-protected or unprotected and the diester groups may be the same or different. In particular, the preparation of a number of .gamma.-ester glutamates and .beta.-ester aspartates are provided.