Abstract

Whole seeds of Bauhinia variegata L. (Fabaceae) were utilized as a biological reducer to transform benzaldehyde into benzyl alcohol. The effects of some variables such as temperature, the load of substrate and co-solvent, were established to optimize the reductive process. Utilizing the optimal reaction conditions, a laboratory-scale reaction (final concentration of the substrate: 21.2 mM) was performed to obtain benzyl alcohol (conversion: 95%; isolated yield: 49%; productivity: 1.11 g L⁻¹ or 0.046 g L⁻¹h⁻¹ of benzyl alcohol). In addition, using these optimal conditions, fourteen substituted benzaldehydes were reduced, with a conversion achieved to their corresponding benzyl alcohols ranging from 62% to >99% (isolated yields from 7% to 70%). Moreover, useful building blocks by the synthesis of the drugs and important commercial products were also obtained. The scope, limitations and advantages of this new biocatalytic synthetic method are also discussed.

摘要

Bauhinia variegata L.（豆科植物）的完整种子被用作生物还原剂，将苯甲醛转化为苯甲醇。建立了一些变量的影响，如温度、底物负载和共溶剂，以优化还原过程。利用最佳反应条件，进行实验室规模反应（底物终浓度：21.2 mM）以获得苯甲醇（转化率：95%；分离产率：49%；生产率：1.11 g L −1 或 0.046 ^g L ⁻¹小时⁻¹苯甲醇）。此外，使用这些最佳条件，减少了 14 种取代的苯甲醛，其相应苯甲醇的转化率从 62% 到 >99%（分离产率从 7% 到 70%）。此外，还获得了合成药物和重要商业产品的有用构件。还讨论了这种新的生物催化合成方法的范围、局限性和优势。