Asymmetric Reduction of α,α‐Dichloro‐β‐Keto Esters by NADPH‐Dependent Ketoreductases

Abstract

AbstractAn enzymatic approach for the asymmetric reduction of α,α‐dichloro‐β‐keto esters has been developed. With this highly efficient enzymatic method several enantiomerically pure (S)‐α,α‐dichloro‐β‐hydroxy esters have been synthesized. These valuable chiral intermediates were produced in optically pure form (>99 % ee, >99 % conversion) by NADPH‐dependent ketoreductase catalyzed reactions in a single synthetic step.