CHAPTER 5: Question 9
Simple Answers
The enzyme selectively decomposes the (R)-enantiomer of the cyanohydrin
to give hexan-2-one and HCN. The enzyme then further catalyses the addition
of the HCN to propanal. Hence, at 50% conversion, all of the (R)-enantiomer
of the initially racemic cyanohydrin will have been consumed, leaving the
(S)-enantiomer of the cyanohydrin. Thus the enzyme has carried out
a kinetic resolution on the racemic cyanohydrin.
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