title: Nitrilase and its application as a 'green' catalyst.
abstract: Hydrolase-catalyzed reactions have been widely applied in organic synthesis. Nitrilases are an important class of hydrolase that converts naturally occurring, as well as xenobiotically derived, nitriles to the corresponding carboxylic acids and ammonia. Because of their inherent enantio- and regioselectivities and other benefits, nitrilases are attractive as 'green', mild, and selective catalysts for setting stereogenic centers in fine-chemical synthesis and enantiospecific synthesis of a variety of carboxylic acid derivatives. In this review, the literature has been surveyed to provide a comprehensive coverage of the application of nitrilases in organic synthesis. Literature has also been cited to describe the isolation and/or characterization of nitrilases and related enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India. singh_dr_ram@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Neetu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: Diwan S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rawat
mesh_terms: D000619:Aminohydrolases / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000737:chemistry*; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009570:Nitriles; D015262:Xenobiotics; D006867:Hydrolases; D000619:Aminohydrolases; C021867:nitrilase; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C048831:nitrile hydratase