Separation of d-(+)-Nicotine from a Racemic Mixture by Stereospecific Degradation of the l-(-) Isomer with Pseudomonas putida.

Incubation of racemic mixtures of dl-(+/-)-nicotine with Pseudomonas putida resulted in a complete stereoselective degradation of the l-(-) isomer. Unnatural d-(+)-nicotine, which is of pharmacological interest for stereochemical studies of various nicotine-responsive systems, was not affected by the bacterium and was recovered by extraction.