Asymmetric Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Cyclic Ketones by a Yeast

Abstract
The asymmetric reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond of α,β-unsaturated cyclic compounds proceeds with high enantioselectivity when catalyzed by Yamadazyma farinosa IFO 10896. Microbial reduction of 2-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one followed by PCC oxidation affords the optically active (R)-2-methyl-1-cyclohexanone of 95% ee. On the other hand, the sequential reactions of (E)-2-propylidene-1-cyclohexanone gives the unsaturated ketone possessing an S-configuration at the C-2 position.