Microorganisms that hydrolyze the one enantiomer of dl-phenoxyacetaldehyde cyanohydrin acetate were screened, and Bacillus coagulans isolated from soil was found to be the best. This bacterium was applied to the asymmetric hydrolysis of other aryloxyacetaldehyde derivatives to give satisfactory results. The effect of adding dimethyl sulfoxide to the medium is also described.
