Stereoselective Enzymatic Synthesis of Chiral Alcohols with the Use of a Carbonyl Reductase from Candida magnoliae with Anti-Prelog Enantioselectivity

In our effort to search for carbonyl reductases with anti-Prelog enantioselectivity, the activity and enantioselectivity of a carbonyl reductase from Candida magnoliae have been examined with various ketones of diverse structures. This carbonyl reductase catalyzed the reduction of a series of ketones, α- and β-ketoesters, to anti-Prelog configurated alcohols in excellent optical purity. The usefulness of this carbonyl reductase has been demonstrated by synthesis of several chiral alcohol intermediates of pharmaceutical importance.