Whole-Cell Biocatalytic Production of Variously Substituted β-Aryl- and β-Heteroaryl-β-Amino Acids.

•An aminomutase whole-cell biocatalyst made 18 β-arylalanines.•Conversion yields were ≥90% for five of the β-amino acids.•p-Bromo-β-phenylalanine yield (235mgL−1 after 6h) was highest.•Whole-cells remained viable after at least 5 batch reaction cycles.•α-Amino acid substrates at 1mM were not toxic to the cells.