Asymmetric Bioreduction of an Allylic Ketosulfone to its Corresponding (R)-Alcohol

The screening of 144 microbial strains yielded several suitable biocatalysts for the asymmetric bioreduction of an allylic ketosulfone to its corresponding (R)-alcohol. The production of the desired enantiomer with elevated optical purity (ee > 90%) was achieved by the yeast strain Candida magnoliae MY 1785. The enantiocomplementary chiral reduction, the production of the (5)-alcohol, was also achieved when employing other microbial strains. The production of preparative amounts (about 2.5 g) of the (R)-enantiomer with elevated optical purity (ee > 90%) was completed when employing the yeast strain Candida magnoliae.