Enantioselective deoxygenation of alkyl aryl sulfoxides by DMSO reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides f.s. denitrificans

The substrate specificity and enantioselectivity of DMSO reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides f.s. denitrificans were studied on a series of alkyl aryl sulfoxides as substrate. The enzyme was found to catalyze deoxygenation of (S)-sulfoxides predominantly. (R)-Sulfoxides were recovered with a high enantiomeric excess.