Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds of the general formula II which can be obtained by 1,4 addition of 2-oxoalkanoates or 2-oxocarboxylic acids onto the appropriate ketones. The present invention also relates to the use of the PigD protein for catalysis of 1,4 additions of 2-oxoalkanoates/-carboxylic acids, for example pyruvate/pyruvic acid or 2-oxobutyrate/2-oxobutyric acid, onto aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic ?,?-unsaturated ketones. The 1,4 additions are effected here with CO2 elimination. The use of the PigD protein as a catalyst in the aforementioned 1,4 additions enables the synthesis of addition products with stereoactive centers these addition products being preparable with an enantiomeric excess of more than 80% ee.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds of the general formula II which can be obtained by 1,4 addition of 2-oxoalkanoates or 2-oxocarboxylic acids onto the appropriate ketones. The present invention also relates to the use of the PigD protein for catalysis of 1,4 additions of 2-oxoalkanoates/-carboxylic acids, for example pyruvate/pyruvic acid or 2-oxobutyrate/2-oxobutyric acid, onto aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic ?,?-unsaturated ketones. The 1,4 additions are effected here with CO2 elimination. The use of the PigD protein as a catalyst in the aforementioned 1,4 additions enables the synthesis of addition products with stereoactive centers these addition products being preparable with an enantiomeric excess of more than 80% ee.