Recent Advances in the Biocatalytic Asymmetric Reduction of Acetophenones and α,β
-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

J. Augusto R. Rodrigues¹*, Paulo J. S. Moran¹*, Gelson J. A. Conceição² and Lucídio C. Fardelone<sup>3

1</sup>Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, CP 6154, 13084-971, Campinas, SP, Brazil
²Faculty of Zootechny and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, 13635-000, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
³Cristália Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, 13970-970, Itapira, SP, Brazil

Article history:
Received July 28, 2004
Accepted November 22, 2004

Key words:
biocatalysis, oxidoreductase, acetophenones, chiral building blocks

Summary:
Whole cells of living organisms, mainly of yeasts, have been used as reliable biocatalysts by synthetic organic chemists to perform redox reactions of various functional groups. This review focuses on the potential of these whole cells to reduce acetophenones and
α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) furnishing relevant chiral building blocks for fine chemicals and the pharmaceutical industries.

*Corresponding author:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.