Process design implications of aldehyde properties on transketolase-catalysed condensations

Recently we have devised a systematic approach to selection and operation of biotransformation reactions. Such an approach is based on reaction characterisation leading to the identification of constraints and subsequent process synthesis. In this paper we illustrate how this approach can be applied to a model system (condensation of glycolaldehyde with beta-hydroxypyruvate by transketolase to synthesise L-erythrulose) as the basis for rapidly evaluating a second system with different aldehyde properties (condensation of racemic 3-oxy-benzylglyceraldehyde with beta-hydroxypyruvate to synthesise (3S,4R)-5-oxy-benzyl-D-xylulose). Some general conclusions are drawn.