Biotransformations of ortho-, meta- and para-aromatic nitrocompounds by strains of Aspergillus terreus: Reduction of ketones and deracemization of alcohols

Seven strains of the fungus Aspergillus terreus isolated from several provenances in Brazil, catalyzed biotransformations of ortho-, meta- and para-nitrophenyl compounds at different pH values. ortho-Nitroacetophenone and meta-nitroacetophenone were transformed into (S)-(+)-1-(ortho-nitrophenyl)ethanol and (S)-(−)-1-(meta-nitrophenyl)ethanol with high enantiomeric excess (e.e. ≥98%) and conversion (≥98%) by all the strains used. Deracemization of (RS)-1-(meta-nitrophenyl)ethanol was obtained with high selectivity (e.e. up to ≥98%) and good conversion (c 98%). The biotransformations in acidic medium using these fungus strains were more efficient than under basic or neutral conditions.