Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an optionally N-protected amino acid C-terminal ester or an optionally N-protected peptide C-terminal ester, comprising transesterifying the C-terminal t-alkyl ester of the amino acid or the C-terminal t-alkyl ester of the peptide with an alcohol (other than the t-alcohol corresponding to the t-alkyl group of the ester) in the presence of a hydrolytic enzyme (E.C. 3). The invention further relates to a method for preparing a peptide comprising coupling an activated, N-protected, amino acid C-terminal ester or an optionally N-protected peptide C-terminal ester with an optionally C-terminal protected amino acid or an optionally C-terminal protected peptide via a peptide bond, in the presence of an enzyme catalysing peptidic bond formation.

Abstract: Method for enzymatically synthesising a peptide, comprising enzymatically preparing an ester or a thioester from (i) an N-terminal protected amino acid, an N-terminal protected amino acid C-terminal ester, an N-terminal protected peptide, or an N-terminal protected peptide C-terminal ester and (ii) an alcohol represented by the formula HO—CX2—Z respectively a thiol represented by the formula HS—CX2—Z, each X independently representing a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom; and Z being selected from the group of sp3-hybridised carbons comprising at least two substituents comprising a heteroatom directly attached to the sp3-hybridised carbon and sp2-hybridised carbons comprising one or two substituents comprising a heteroatom directly attached to the sp2-hybridised carbon, the preparation of the ester or thioester being carried out in a reaction medium comprising 2 wt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selective conjugation of bioactive moieties to a polymer or polymerisable compound. The method is more specifically related to the selective conjugation of bioactive moieties to a pendant carboxylic acid, ester or thioester group in which the pendant group is part of a polymer or a polymerisable compound, wherein the method comprises contacting the polymer or polymerisable compound with a hydrolytic enzyme to catalyse the conjugation between the bioactive moiety and the pendant carboxylic acid, ester or thioester group. The conjugation of the bioactive moieties may occur prior to, during or after polymerization of the polymerisable compound. The conjugation of the bioactive moieties may also occur after the polymer is given a form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selectively hydrolysing a pendant ester bond formed by an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon group—optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms—and a pendant carboxylate moiety, which carboxylate moiety is part of a polymer or a polymerisable compound, which polymer or polymerisable compound comprises at least one other hydrolysable group, wherein the method comprises contacting the polymer or polymerisable compound with a hydrolytic enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an optionally N-protected amino acid C-terminal ester or an optionally N-protected peptide C-terminal ester, comprising transesterifying the C-terminal t-alkyl ester of the amino acid or the C-terminal t-alkyl ester of the peptide with an alcohol (other than the t-alcohol corresponding to the t-alkyl group of the ester) in the presence of a hydrolytic enzyme (E.C. 3). The invention further relates to a method for preparing a peptide comprising coupling an activated, N-protected, amino acid C-terminal ester or an optionally N-protected peptide C-terminal ester with an optionally C-terminal protected amino acid or an optionally C-terminal protected peptide via a peptide bond, in the presence of an enzyme catalysing peptidic bond formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an enantiomerically and/or diastereomerically enriched ester or thioester having at least two adjacent chiral centres, wherein a mixture of stereoisomers of a secondary alcohol or thiol having a structure comprising a first chiral center forming a secondary alcohol or secondary thiol moiety in the beta position relative to a second chiral center having one hydrogen substituent, is reacted with an acyl donor in the presence of an epimerisation catalyst and a stereoselective acylation catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound comprising (a) at least two polymerisable moieties, (b) at least one amino acid residue of an amino acid comprising at least two amine groups of which at least two amine groups have formed a carbamate, a thiocarbamate or a carbamide group, and (c) a biomolecular moiety linked directly or via a spacer to the carboxylic acid moiety of the diamino acid residue or a carboxylic acid to which such moiety can be linked. The invention further relates to a polymer obtainable from such compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzymatic oligopeptide synthesis in the N?C direction, in particular to a process for the preparation of an optionally N-protected oligopeptide C-terminal alkylester comprising the step of reacting the corresponding optionally N-protected oligopeptide C-terminal carboxyamide with an alkyl alcohol, preferably methanol, in the presence of a peptide amidase. The formed C-terminal alkylester can subsequently be used for the coupling with another amino acid residue or oligopeptide. Therefore, inventors have found a very advantageous process for the preparation of oligopeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the preparation of diastereomerically pure (3R,3aS,6aR) hexahydro-furo[2,3-b]furan-3-ol as well as a novel intermediate, (3aR,4S,6aS) 4-methoxy-tetrahydro-furo[3,4-b]furan-2-one for use in said methods. More in particular the invention relates to a stereoselective method for the preparation of diastereomerically pure (3R,3aS,6aR) hexahydro-furo[2,3-b]furan-3-ol, as well as methods for the crystallization of (3aR,4S,6aS) 4-methoxy-tetrahydro-furo[3,4-b]furan-2-one and for the epimerization of (3aR,4R,6aS) 4-methoxy-tetrahydro-furo[3,4-b]-furan-2-one to (3aR,4S,6aS) 4-methoxy-tetrahydro-furo[3,4-b]furan-2-one.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the deprotection of protected amine compounds, wherein the protected amine compound is contacted with an electrophilic oxidating agent that is optionally formed in situ, said electrophilic oxidating agent being selected from the group of I2, Br2, Cl2 and compounds comprising a halogen atom having a formal oxidation state of 1+, 3+, 5+ or 7+, provided that the electrophilic oxidating agent is not iodobenzene diacetate. The process can be conveniently employed in the synthesis of 1,3-amino alcohols, ?-amino acids and heterocyclic compounds, in particular ?-amino acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of (S)-glyceraldehyde acetonide in aqueous solution from 3,4-O-isopropylidene-L-threonic acid or a salt thereof in aqueous solution, and hypochlorite in aqueous solution wherein the aqueous hypochlorite solution has a pH>7.5 and wherein during addition of at least 0.1 molar equivalents of hypochlorite based on the amount of 3,4-O-isopropylidene-L-threonic acid, an acid solution is not simultaneously added. The invention also relates to a process according to the invention, wherein 3,4-O-isopropylidene-L-threonic acid or a salt thereof is prepared from 5,6-O-isopropylidene-L-ascorbic acid or a salt thereof in the presence of H2O2 and a base in a manner known per se, wherein excess H2O2 is optionally removed by catalase.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity is disclosed wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral amine is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of hexahydro-furo[2,3-b]furan-3-ol as well as novel intermediates for use in said method. More in particular the invention relates to a stereoselective method for the preparation of hexahydro-furo[2,3-b]furan-3-ol, and to a method amenable to industrial scaling up.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral compound of formula 1 wherein: R1 represents an alkyl or an aryl group R2 represents H, an alkyl or an aryl group Y represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, (CH2)nCOOH, (CH2)n—COOR, (CH2)n—CONRR?, CH2OH, or C?N wherein R and R? independently represent H, an alkyl or aryl group, and n represents 0 or 1, is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor wherein the metal is chosen from the groups 5–11 of the periodic system, or for the preparation of a formylated compound with enhanced optical purity from a mixture of the enantiomers of the corresponding not formulated chiral compound in the presence of a formylation agent. Preferably the peptide deformylase is chosen from the class EC 3.5.2.27 or EC 3.5.1.31, and contains the sequences of (I) HEXXH, (ii) EGCLS and (iii) GXGXAAXQ.