Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 2000-01-01

Asymmetric reduction of ethyl 2-methyl e-oxobutanoate by fungi.

K Iwamoto, T Kuramoto, M Izumi, M Kirihata, T Dohmaru, F Yoshizako

Index: Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 64(1) , 194-7, (2000)

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Abstract

Seven fungi, which are found to reduce ethyl 3-oxobutanoate in high yields, were tested for their reducing ability for ethyl 2-methyl 3-oxobutanoate. We obtained some interesting findings. In particular, Penicillium purpurogenum reduced ethyl 2-methyl 3-oxobutanoate to the corresponding alcohols with the diastereomer (anti/syn) ratio of 93/7 with the enantiomeric excess of anti-(2S,3S)- and syn-(2S,3R)- hydroxy esters of 90 and >99 ee%, respectively.