Enzymatic processes for the production of 4-substituted 3-hydroxybutyric acid derivatives and vicinal cyano, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid esters

A method for producing a vicinal cyano, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid ester from a vicinal halo, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid ester, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a vicinal halo, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid ester,
• wherein the halo substituent is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, and iodine;
• and
• (b) contacting the vicinal halo, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid ester with a halohydrin dehalogenase and cyanide under conditions suitable to form a reaction mixture for converting the vicinal halo, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid ester to a vicinal cyano, hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid ester.