Asymmetric bioreduction of a bisaryl ketone to its corresponding (S)-bisaryl alcohol, by the yeast Rhodotorula pilimanae ATCC 32762

The screening of 310 microbial strains yielded eight as suitable biocatalys ts for the asymmetric bioreduction of a highly hindered bisaryl ketone to i ts corresponding alcohols. The production of both enantiomers with elevated optical purity (ee > 96%) was achieved by different microorganisms. When s caling up the asymmetric bioreduction process in laboratory bioreactors (23 1 scale), the production of preparative amounts (1.5 g) of the (S) enantio mer with elevated optically purity (ee > 96%) was achieved when employing t he yeast Rhodotorula pilimanae ATCC 32762. Achieving this asymmetric biored uction with enantiocomplementarity in employing such a hindered substrate i s remarkable and highlights the potential of such biological approach. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.