Screening on the use of Kluyveromyces marxianus CBS 6556 growing cells as enantioselective biocatalyst for ketones reduction

Kluyveromyces marxianus CBS 6556 growing cell versatility in the enantioselective reduction of ketone-carbonyl functionality to the corresponding alcohols was exploited. In particular, methyl ketones were reduced to (S)-alcohols with ee up to 96%. Longer chain alkyl ketones afford, in the same experimental condition, (R)-alcohols with ee up to 84%. Interestingly, carbon-carbon double and triple bond of ketones can also be reduced in the presence of Kluyveromyces marxianus CBS 6556 yeast. Endocyclic carbonyl functionality, such as 2-tetralone carbonyl, is also quantitatively reduced to its (S)-alcohol with ee = 76%.