Process for the enzymatic production of carnitine from beta-lactones

A process for the production of L-carnitine, wherein a β-lactone, which is a 4-(halomethyl)oxetane-2-one, is converted into L-carnitine, wherein the process comprises enzymatic conversion of the β-lactone into (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid, wherein the enzymatic conversion is carried out with a lipase in an aqueous medium, the lipase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 1 or SEQ ID NO:
• 2, wherein the enantiomeric purity of the (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid is at least 95% e.e., and conversion of (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid into L-carnitine with trimetylamine.