Kinetic study of the stereoselectivity reduction of acetophenone promoted by a strain of Geotrichum spp

Abstract

Nowadays, biocatalytic stereoselective reduction of prochiral ketones is one of the most important methodologies in organic synthesis for the preparation of chiral alcohols. These enantiomerically pure alcohols are very important because they are key precursors in the obtaining of pharmaceutical compounds. Recently, a screening on fifty six strains of bacteria and fungi was made for our team toidentify microorganisms capable of performing the stereoselective reduction of acetophenone (AP) to 1-phenylethanol (1-PE). From this study a strain of Geotrichum spp.has been isolated and characterized, and this yeast has presented anexcellent conversion (>99%) and stereoselectivity (>99.9 e.e.%) in the preparation of (R)-1-PE from AP.