The selective oxyfunctionalisation of unactivated C-H bonds is considered to be a “dream reaction” in organic chemistry. In this study three biocatalytic systems for the oxyfunctionalisation of butane are investigated in a 0.2 L and 2 L bubble column reactor. (1) In a whole cell (E. coli) the heterologously expressed membrane bound alkane 1-monooxygenase (AlkBGT system) is applied to oxidise butane to butyric acid. (2) An improved strain is examined regarding its potential to metabolise butane and its derivatives, 1-butanol and butyric acid, as sole carbon source. (3) Unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) is applied as a free enzyme for the selective hydroxylation of butane to 2-butanol outside of analytical scale.
