Recent Advances in the Biocatalytic Asymmetric Reduction of Acetophenones and
α.β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

Whole cells of living organisms, mainly of yeasts, have been used as reliable biocatalysts by synthetic organic chemists to perform redox reactions of various functional groups. This review focuses on the potential of these whole cells to reduce acetophenones and

α.β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) furnishing relevant chiral building blocks for fine chemicals and the pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords

• biocatalysis
• oxidoreductase
• acetophenones
• chiral building blocks