Biocatalytic racemisation of (alpha)-hydroxycarboxylic acids at physiological conditions

Biocatalytic racemisation of aliphatic, aryl-aliphatic and aromatic (alpha)-hydroxycarboxylic acids was accomplished using whole resting cells of Lactobacillus paracasei DSM 20207; the mild (physiological) reaction conditions ensured an essentially ʹcleanʹ isomerization in the absence of side reactions, such as elimination or decomposition.