Bioreduction of prochiral ketones by growing cells of Lasiodiplodia theobromae: Discovery of a versatile biocatalyst for asymmetric synthesis

Growing cells of the phytopathogen fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae in potato dextrose broth have shown their potential for the stereoselective bioreduction of different prochiral aromatic and aliphatic ketones. Optically active alcohols were obtained under mild reaction conditions in high conversions (up to 90%) and moderate to excellent enantioselectivity (35–≥99% ee) depending on the ketone structure. Prelog alcohols were isolated, except in the bioreduction of cyclohexylmethylketone and octan-2-one where anti-Prelog alcohols were obtained.