Patent ID: 7378261

Claim:
A process for producing a derivatized compound of para-hydroxystyrene comprising: a) providing an enzyme source having para-hydroxycinnamic acid decarboxylase activity, wherein the enzyme source comprises a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, and wherein the enzyme source is selected from the group consisting of cell-free extract, partially purified enzyme, and purified enzyme; b) contacting the enzyme source with para-hydroxycinnamic acid in a biphasic reaction medium comprising an aqueous phase and an extractant, wherein the extractant is a water-immiscible organic solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, methyl decanoate, 2-undecanone, dichloromethane, hexane, 2-decanol, 4-decanol, 3-decanone, 4-decanone, 1-nonanol, 2-nonanol, 2-heptanol and mixtures thereof, to form para-hydroxystyrene which is extracted into the extractant of the biphasic reaction medium; c) separating the extractant containing the para-hydroxystyrene after step b) from the aqueous phase; and d) chemically derivatizing the extractant containing the para-hydroxystyrene after step c) to form a derivatized compound of para-hydroxystyrene.