Process of producing phosphinothricin employing nitrilases

A process for the preparation of a phosphinothricin product or precursor thereof, the process comprising:

• contacting in a reaction mixture a nitrile-containing substrate of Formula I
• with an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a nitrilase, a nitrile hydratase, a mixture of nitrile hydratase and amidase, and mixtures thereof to form the phosphinothricin product or precursor thereof of Formula VI
• wherein X is either —OH or —NH2;
• R1 is hydrogen, —C(O)R4, or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl;
• R2 is hydrogen, —C(O)R4, —C(O)R5, or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl;
• or R1 and R2 are part of a heterocyclic ring;
• R3 is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or an agronomically acceptable salt-forming cation;
• and
• R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted furanyl.