E. R. Squibb Sons, Inc.

Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

Clyde G McNamee

Ramesh N Patel

Laszlo J Szarka

Amit Banerjee

John K Thottathil

David B Brzozowski

An enzymatic reduction method, particularly a stereoselective enzymatic reduction method, for the preparation of halohydrins from haloketones. The halohydrin products are particularly useful in the preparation of epoxides, which may be employed as intermediates in the preparation of protease inhibitors such as retroviral protease inhibitors.

Enzymatic reduction method for the preparation of halohydrins

An enzymatic reduction method, particularly a stereoselective enzymatic reduction method, for the preparation of compounds useful as intermediates in the preparation of taxanes.

Enzymatic reduction method for the preparation of compounds useful for

An enzymatic process for the preparation of chiral epoxides, monohydroxy or dihydroxy compounds of formula ##STR1## by the stereoselective epoxidation or hydroxylation of benzopyrans of formula ##STR2## or resolution of compounds of formula ##STR3## The compounds of formula I and II are intermediates useful in the preparation of pyranyl cyanoguanidine derivatives.

Method of chiral epoxidation of benzopyran or pyranopyridine derivatives

An enantiomerically pure compound of the formula ##STR1## is prepared when the associated racemic mixture is reacted with an acrylating agent R.sup.3 --C(O)--O--R in the presence of a microorganism or enzyme derived therefrom capable of catalyzing transesterification of an alcohol. X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently halogen, R is alkyl, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl and R.sup.3 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl.

Process for selecting an enantiomer of a hydroxy lactone using

The present invention concerns a process for the stereoselective enzymatic reduction of keto group-containing compounds such as N-(4-(2-chloroacetyl)phenyl)methanesulfonamido to form the corresponding hydroxyl-group containing compound. The process is selective for the D(+) enantiomer and is catalyzed by enzymes such as oxido-reductase or dehydrogense, or by microorganisms such as Hansenula, Rhodococcus, or Norcardia species.

Stereoselective reduction of ketones

Microorganisms or reductases derived therefrom reduce a diketo ester ##STR1## to form the associated 3-hydroxy, 5-hydroxy, or 3,5-dihydroxy esters. Selected microorganisms produce the preferred stereoisomers ##STR2## which can be used to prepare antihypercholesterolemic agents such as ##STR3##

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Lawrenceville, NJ, United States of America

Clyde G McNamee