Basf Se Corporation

Bernhard Haur

Hartwig Schröder

Michael Breuer

Rainer Stürmer

Thomas Friedrich

Maria Keβeler

The invention relates to a method for producing the optically active alkanols of formula (I), wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 5; Cyc represents an optionally substituted, mononuclear or polynuclear, saturated or unsaturated, carbocylic or heterocyclic ring, and Rrepresents halogen, SH, OH, NO, NRRor NRRRX, wherein R, Rand Rindependently represent H or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group and Xrepresents a counterion. According to the invention, an enzyme (E) selected from the groups of dehydrogenases, aldehyde reductases and carbonyl reductases is incubated in a medium containing the alkanone of formula (II), wherein n, Cyc and Rare defined as above, in the presence of reduction equivalents. The compound of formula (II) is enzymatically reduced to the compound of formula (I) and the reduction equivalents consumed during reaction are regenerated by reacting a sacrificial alcohol to the corresponding sacrificial ketone using enzyme (E) and at least partially removing the sacrificial ketone from the reaction medium, and then isolating the product (I) so produced. 

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Fuβgönheim, Germany

Bernhard Haur