Enantioselective Reduction of Ketones with “Designer Cells” at High Substrate Concentrations: Highly Efficient Access to Functionalized Optically Active Alcohols

Productive cells: In a simple, highly efficient process for the synthesis of optically active alcohols, ketones are reduced by “designer cells” at high substrate concentrations and without the addition of an “external” cofactor in aqueous reaction medium. A wide range of R and S alcohols can be prepared with conversions of >90 % and enantioselectivities of >99 % ee (scheme shows results from the application on a 10-L scale).