This invention provides a process for the preparation of optically active 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone or N-substituted 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted regio- and stereoselectively into the corresponding non-hydroxylated 2-pyrrolidinones, by using, as a biocatalyst, a microorganism having hydroxylation activity, or a host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation enzymes derived from the said microorganism, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived from the above microorganisms. The microorganism may be selected from the group consisting of microorganisms that degrade alkanes or cyclic hydrocarbons, microorganisms having alkane hydroxylase(s), or microorganisms that are able to oxidize hydrocarbons.
本发明提供了一种制备光学活性
4-羟基-2-吡咯烷酮或N-取代的
4-羟基-2-吡咯烷酮的方法,其中将氧原子以区域和立体选择性插入相应的非羟基化
2-吡咯烷酮中,使用具有羟化活性的微
生物或具有来自所述微
生物的羟化酶所必需的
基因的宿主
生物作为
生物催化剂,或者使用来自上述微
生物的羟化酶活性的酶。微
生物可以从降解
烷烃或
环烃的微
生物、具有
烷烃羟化酶的微
生物或能够氧化碳氢化合物的微
生物中选择。