Enantioselective bioreduction of acetophenone and its analogous by the fungus Trichothecium sp.

Whole cells of the fungus Trichothecium were found to be an effective biocatalyst for the enantioselective bioreduction of acetophenone and its analogous compounds to their corresponding (R)-alcohols with good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (90–98%). The easy availability of the biocatalyst besides simple reaction conditions suggests the possible use of the present method for preparing important chiral alcohols.