Patent ID: 7858775

Claim:
A method for producing 2′-deoxynucleosides or 2′-deoxynucleoside precursors, wherein said 2′-deoxynucleoside precursors are 2-deoxy-D-ribose (DRI) or carbohydrate compounds which can be converted into the 2-deoxy-D-ribosyl moiety of 2′-deoxynucleosides, including 1-phospho-2-deoxy-D-ribose, 5-phospho-2-deoxy-D-ribose, 2-deoxy-D-ribitol, 2-deoxy-D-ribonic acid, and 2-deoxy-D-ribono-1,4-lactone, by decarboxylating a compound of formula (I), or its salts, or a protected form thereof wherein one or more of the hydroxyl groups at positions 4, 5, and/or 6 are protected by a protection group in a process comprising a decarboxylation step; wherein the decarboxylation step is effected by an enzymatic reaction comprising a single step, and the enzymatic reaction is catalyzed by an enzyme having keto acid decarboxylase activity.