Highly enantioselective synthesis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted malonamic acids through asymmetric hydrolysis of dinitriles with Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497.

Highly enantioselective hydrolysis of alpha,alpha-disubstituted malononitriles by the strain Rhodococcus sp. CGMCC 0497 expressing both nitrile hydratase and amidase activity to give (R)-alpha,alpha-disubstituted malonamic acids which could be converted to valuable (R)- or (S)-alpha-alkylated amino acids are reported and the yields of the products are improved remarkably at a lower reaction temperature.