Biocatalytic asymmetric ring-opening of dihydroisoxazoles: a cyanide-free route to complementary enantiomers of β-hydroxy nitriles from olefins

From alkenes and nitromethane, a cyanide-free pathway to synthesize chiral β-hydroxy nitriles via the enantioselective ring-opening of 5-sub-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles catalyzed by aldoxime dehydratases has been developed.