Efficient Enzymic Production of Enantiomerically Pure Amino Acids

A generally applicable process for the production of enan-tioraerically pure amino acids is described. The method is based upon an enzymic resolution of DL-amino acid amides. As a biocatalyst aminopep-tidase from Pseudomonas putida is used, which will stereospecifically hydrolyze the L-from of the amino acid amide. Efficient methods for the synthesis of substrates, the separation of L-amino acid from D-amino acid amide and the racemization and recycling of the unwanted isomer have been developed.