| abstract |
A biological process for predominantly producing an optically active α-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group directly from a racemic α-hydroxynitrile or a mixture of an aldehyde corresponding to the nitrile and prussic acid as a substrate is disclosed, comprising reacting a microorganism belonging to the genus Gordona with the substrate in a neutral to basic aqueous medium. A desired optically active α-hydroxycarboxylic acid having a phenyl group can be obtained quantitatively at a high optical purity. |