Pennie & Edmonds
Manufacture of optically active 2-phenylpropionic acid and 2-phenylpropionamide from the nitrile using Rhodococcus equi
 The present invention provides a method of obtaining optically active 2-phenylpropionic acid and 2-phenylpropionamide such as S-(+)-2-phenylpropionic acid, R-(-)-2-phenylpropionamide, and R-(-)-2-phenylpropionic acid from S-2-phenylpropionitrile or R,S-2-phenylpropionamide using a bacterium belonging to Rhodococcus equi. Optically active 2-phenylpropionic acid and 2-phenylpropionamide are recovered in high yield and in quantities according to the method of the invention. 
Nitto Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Lonza Japan, Ltd.
C C Y C C C
C12P C12R Y10S C12P C12N C12P
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Hideaki Toru
Yamada Nagasawa