• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2009

Enantiopure styrene oxide derivatives are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of enantiopure pharmaceuticals. Styrene monooxygenase (SMO) catalyzes an asymmetric addition of an oxygen atom into a double bond of vinylaromatic compounds. SMO is a commercially potential biocatalyst to synthesize a variety of enantiopure epoxides with high enantiopurity and recovery yield. In this paper development of SMO biocatalyst and commercial feasibility of SMO-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure stylers oxide derivatives are reviewed.