REDUCTIVE BIOTRANSFORMATIONS OF 2-SUBSTITUTED-3-CARBONYL BUTANOATE BYRESTING CELLS AND AN ENZYMATIC SYSTEM OF GEOTRICHUM SP

Five 2-substituted-3-carbonyl butanoates (R:CH3, C2H5, CH2CH=CH, n-C4H 9, PhCH(2)) were reduced by resting cells of Geotrichum sp. to form 2- substituted-3-hydroxy butanoate in a mixture of syn and anti forms. Wh en 2-substituted-3-carbonyl butanoates were reduced with the freshly i solated enzyme preparation from Geotrichum sp, in the presence of a co enzyme regeneration system, the products were obtained with absolute s yn-selectivity. The results provide guidance on selection of the most appropriate biocatalytic system to achieve specific carbonyl reduction s.