An enzymatic method for the production of an L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester can be performed. This method is characterized by reacting an L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester carbamoylate to give the corresponding L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester. This is catalyzed by a carbamoylase. The L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester carbamoylate employed may be obtained by a reaction from the corresponding L-glufosinate hydantoin P-alkyl ester. This is catalyzed by a hydantoinase, preferably an L-enantioselective hydantoinase. In a second aspect, an enzymatic method for enantioselective production of an L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester from a mixture M.sub.IIIA of L- and D-glufosinate P-alkyl ester hydantoins can be performed. The L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester obtained in the methods according to the first or second aspect of the invention may be saponified to give L-glufosinate.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing glufosinate, comprising the step of enzymatically cleaving off a carbamoyl moiety of a carbamoyl amino acid compound.

A first enzymatic method for the production of an L-glufosinate P-ester includes reacting an L-glufosinate P-ester carbamoylate to give the corresponding L-glufosinate P-ester in the presence of a carbamoylase as a catalyzer. A second enzymatic method includes the enantioselective production of an L-glufosinate P-ester from a mixture M.sub.IIIA of L- and D-glufosinate P-ester hydantoins. The L-glufosinate P-ester obtained in the two methods may be saponified to give L-glufosinate.

A first enzymatic method for the production of an L-glufosinate P-ester includes reacting an L-glufosinate P-ester carbamoylate to give the corresponding L-glufosinate P-ester in the presence of a carbamoylase as a catalyzer. A second enzymatic method includes the enantioselective production of an L-glufosinate P-ester from a mixture M.sub.IIIA of L- and D-glufosinate P-ester hydantoins. The L-glufosinate P-ester obtained in the two methods may be saponified to give L-glufosinate.

An enzymatic method for the production of an L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester can be performed. This method is characterized by reacting an L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester carbamoylate to give the corresponding L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester. This is catalyzed by a carbamoylase. The L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester carbamoylate employed may be obtained by a reaction from the corresponding L-glufosinate hydantoin P-alkyl ester. This is catalyzed by a hydantoinase, preferably an L-enantioselective hydantoinase. In a second aspect, an enzymatic method for enantioselective production of an L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester from a mixture M.sub.IIIA of L- and D-glufosinate P-alkyl ester hydantoins can be performed. The L-glufosinate P-alkyl ester obtained in the methods according to the first or second aspect of the invention may be saponified to give L-glufosinate.