Abstract

BIOCATALYTIC REDUCTION OF IMIDAZOL-2-ONES AND PYRIMIDIN-2-ONES MEDIATED BY LYCOPERSICUM ESCULENTUM L (TOMATO)

Dr. Kandarpa Phukan*

Abstract

The ripen fruit of Lycopersicum esculentum L (tomato) has been successfully used for enantioselective reduction of Imidazol-2-ones and Pyrimidin-2-ones to the corresponding nitrogenous heterocyclic alcohols. Significantly without using any chemical reducing agents aqueous suspension of ripen tomato fruits alone results in almost complete reduction of a set of five and six membered heterocyclic ketones within 24-35 hrs at room temperature giving corresponding heterocyclic S-alcohols in excellent chemical yields and enantiomeric excess. The present work reveals that chemical transformations using direct plant cells as biocatalysts have now become an attractive and alternative eco-friendly route for synthesis of a variety of commercially significant compounds.

Keywords: Biocatalytic reduction, imidazol-2-ones, pyrimidin-2-ones, Lycopersicum esculentum L.