CHAPTER 10:Redox Biotechnological Processes Applied to Fine Chemicals

In this chapter, the authors present their work on the biotechnological process to obtain fine chemicals mainly by using microrganisms in reduction or oxidation of organic compounds giving important chiral building blocks in high ee as a contribution to the white technologies. The biooxidations processes involve the hydroxylation of benzylic and allylic moieties, alkene epoxydation, Bayer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones and sulfide oxidation of aryl alkyl thioester. On the other hand, halohydrins with one and two chiral centers were obtained by bioreduction of α-haloketone and α-haloenone. In addition, vicinal diols also with two chiral centers were giving by bioreduction of the correspondent diketones.