Asymmetric Bioreductions of β-Nitro Acrylates as a Route to Chiral β²-Amino Acids

[Structure: see text] Reductions of beta-nitroacrylates by Saccharomyces carlsbergensis old yellow enzyme is the key step in a concise route to optically active beta2-amino acids. The enzymatic reductions occur with 87-96% ee, with larger substrates providing greater stereoselectivities. This work extends enantioselective enzymatic alkene reductions to include acyclic systems with weakly coordinating substituents.