Preparation the Key Intermediate of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors: High Enantioselective Production of Ethyl (R)‐2‐Hydroxy‐4‐Phenylbutyrate with Candida boidinii CIOC21

Forty microorganisms belonging to different taxonomical groups were used to catalyze the enantioselective reduction of ethyl 2‐oxophenylbutyrate to afford the corresponding ethyl 2‐hydroxy‐4‐phenylbutyrate. Several microorganisms led to over 99% ee of ethyl (S)‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐phenylbutyrate. Especially, we firstly found that the Candida boidinii CIOC21 could be effectively used for the enantioselective preparation the ethyl (R)‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐phenylbutyrate in pure aqueous medium with 99% ee, a key intermediate in the production of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.