Stereochemical control of asymmetric hydrogen transfer employing five different kinds of fungi in anhydrous hexane

Nonracemic 1-phenylethyl alcohol of R and S configuration and of high enantiomeric purity was obtained by bioreduction of acetophenone in nonaqueous environment—anhydrous hexane. Immobilized cells of five different kinds of microorganisms were tested as biocatalysts, namely: Rhodotorula rubra, Rhodotorula glutinis, Cladosporium sp., Verticillium sp. and baker’s yeast. The effect of parameters such as the addition of chemical compounds influencing the stereoselectivity of bioreduction and the mode of biocatalyst pretreatment (permeabilization or cultivation under anaerobic conditions) has been investigated.