THE YEAST-MEDIATED REDUCTION OF NITROSTYRENES IN ORGANIC-SOLVENT SYSTEMS

A range of nitrostyrenes have been reduced with dried baker's yeast in an organic solvent system. It was found that the reduction proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding nitroalkanes in good yield and with higher efficiency than the corresponding aqueous reaction system. No evidence for reduction of the nitro group was observed. In the case of beta-methyl nitrostyrenes, racemic mixtures were formed, and it was s hown that this is not due to racemization of the product.