文摘
(R)-1-Arylethanols and other secondary alcohols were prepared at high ee (>90%) by oxidative kinetic resolution using resting cells of the yeast Candida albicans CCT 0776. The deracemization process of 1-phenylethanol <strong class="boldFont">1astrong> catalyzed by the yeast was elucidated by studying each step separately. It was determined that the reaction occurred via cyclic deracemization, to give (R)-<strong class="boldFont">1astrong> in 89% yield and with 98% ee. Finally, deracemization by stereoinversion of rac-<strong class="boldFont">1astrong> was studied using a tandem process of C. albicans followed by Lactobacillus brevis CCT 3745. Inverting the sequence of these microorganisms produced an enantiomerically pure antipode.