Production of (+)‐(S)‐Ethyl 3‐Hydroxybutyrate and (‐)‐(R)‐Ethyl 3‐Hydroxybutyrate by Microbial Reduction of Ethyl Acetoacetate

The production of ( S )‐ethyl 3‐hydroxybutyrate (2) from ethyl acetoacetate (1) in higher yields and with higher optical purity than with the usual procedures was achieved by continuous addition of the substrate 1 and sucrose to an aerated suspension of bakers' yeast. The microbial reduction of 1 by the fungus Geotrichum candidum LINK yields ‐ for the first time ‐ the antipode 3 .