Edible catalysts for clean chemical reactions: Bioreduction of aromatic ketones and biooxidation of secondary alcohols using plants

Bioreduction of acetophenone derivatives 1a–e and biooxidation of (RS)-1-phenylethanol derivatives 2a–e have been evaluated using edible plants as biocatalysts. Chiral (R)- and (S)-alcohols were prepared by different plants in up to 98% of enantiomeric excess. Ketones can also be prepared from alcohol oxidation using this clean protocol.