Fungi isolated from food samples for an efficient stereoselective production of phenylethanols

Abstract Twenty strains of fungi isolated from food samples were screened for the asymmetric reduction of acetophenone. A dimorphic fungus denominated initially as GZ1 and isolated from a carrot sour rot showed very high reduction activities, and based on phenotypic and genetic characteristics was identified as Galactomyces candidus. The only product of the reduction was confirmed to be ( R )-1-phenylethanol. The bioreduction conditions mediated by Gal. candidus GZ1 were investigated, and the optimal conditions in terms of acetophenone concentration, temperature, pH media, co-solvent, the charge of inoculum and shaking speed were established. Under the optimal conditions of 1.875 g/L of acetophenone dissolved in DMSO (1.25% v/v), 112.5 g/L of microorganism cells in 100 mM sterile phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0, 25 °C and 150 rpm, the conversion and enantiomeric excess values after 48 h reaction were 99% and > 99.9%, respectively. A preparative scale reaction of ( R )-1-phenylethanol was made and the isolated yield was 82% with > 99.9 e.e.%. Additionally, a study using several substituted acetophenones was carried out, and the advantages and scope of GZ1 in the production of chiral 1-phenylethanols were established. In this sense, good results were obtained with 3′-hydroxyacetophenone and a preparative scale reaction was performed which give ( R )-1-(3′-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol (key intermediate of Rivastigmine) with 53% of isolated yield and > 99.9 e.e.%.