Stereoselective anti-Prelog reduction of ketones by whole cells of Comamonas testosteroni in a ‘substrate-coupled’ approach

Lyophilized cells of the open accessible bacterium Comamonas testosteroni DSM 1455 proved to be an excellent catalyst for the asymmetric reduction of different α-azido, α-bromo, and α-nitro ketones at elevated substrate concentrations (16 g/L) in a ‘substrate-coupled’ approach using 20% (v/v) of 2-propanol as hydrogen donor. Excellent anti-Prelog stereoselectivity was obtained, which is less common found in nature.