Baker’s Yeast Mediated Reduction of 2-Acetyl-3-methyl Sulfolane

Abstract

The baker’s yeast mediated reduction of 2-acetyl-3-methyl sulfolane 1 to provide the corresponding alcohol 2 is described. Excellent efficiency and enantioselectivity (>98% ee) has been achieved under these mild environmentally benign reaction conditions. In direct contrast, the chemical reduction of 1 proceeds with poor yield (≤25%) and diastereocontrol.

Keywords

• baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
• biocatalysis
• asymmetric reduction
• chiral alcohol
• sulfolane