In this dissertation the novel Agrocybe aegerita peroxidase (AaP) has been successfully characterized and established as an enantioselective biocatalyst in the synthesis of optically active alkyl aryl sulfoxides. The oxidation of the alkyl aryl sulfides yielding in high enantiomeric excess of the (R)-enantiomer (e.e. > 99 %). It was found that the enantiomeric excess of the (R)-sulfoxides obtained with the AaP is due to the asymmetric oxidation of the sulfides with the contribution from a kinetic resolution of the sulfoxides formed.
The AaP requires solely peroxides as co-substrate, whereas hydrogen peroxide is the most effective.
The application of organic solvent, the immobilization of the AaP and a better operational stability towards the peroxide demonstrates the great potential of this novel oxidative enzyme for the industrial biocatalysis.