Biotransformations are now accepted as a methodology for the preparation of fine chemicals. A majority of enzyme-catalysed reactions involve the use of hydrolases, especially lipases, in hydrolysis, esterification or aminolysis reactions. Lyases, the enzymes much less exploited in organic synthesis, especially, (R )- oxynitrilases for the synthesis of optically active cyanohydrins which are intermediates of many compounds of pharmacological importance, are proving increasingly interesting. In this review, the utilities of four kinds of processes in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry have been reported. Enzymatic resolution of alcohols, enzymatic regioselective acylation of amines, alkoxycarbonylation of nature products, and chemoenzymatic synthesis of products of high added value using (R) -oxynitrilases as biocatalyst are described.

Key words: LIPASE;ESTERIFICATION;oxynitrilase;CARBONYLATION;ALKOXYL GROUP, CATALYST