Biocatalytic manufacturing of (meth) acrylic esters

Abstract

The invention relates to a biocatalytic method or process for the synthesis of esters of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid free of positively chargeable/charged groups, comprising reacting one or more alcohols (alcohol starting materials) which are free of positively chargeable or charged groups with (meth)acrylyl-CoA, preferably in the presence of a catalyst (inorganic, organic or organometallic, or preferably a biocatalyst) capable of effecting the transfer of an alcohol radical from an alcohol starting material as defined above or below to (meth)acrylyl CoA under removal of the CoA moiety transferase activity, such as an enzyme of the transferase or hydrolase class of enzymes. The (meth)acrylyl-CoA is preferably formed by reaction of (meth)acrylic acid or its salts with coenzyme A in the presence of an energy providing substance and a biocatalyst e.g. with S-acetyl coenzyme A synthetase activity or by reaction of acrylate or methacrylate produced metabolically in the presence of a biocatalyst or metabolically.