Plant dried powders as biocatalysts: Hydrolysis of 1-phenylpropanol acetate

The hydrolytic ability of plant dried powders, lyophilized or acetone dried, was tested on the hydrolysis of racemic 1-phenylpropanol acetate. Most of the twenty powders tested showed hydrolytic activity, however the best values of conversion and enantioselectivity were reached with the lyophilized powder of nopal (27% conversion, 72% enantiomeric excess of 1-phenylpropanol) and the acetonic powders of cherry (50% conversion, 74% enantiomeric excess of 1-phenylpropanol) and red plum (27% conversion, 75% enantiomeric excess of 1-phenylpropanol).