Fruits of glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum - Oleaceae) as biocatalyst in obtaining chiral aromatic alcohols

MARIO L. AIMAR; DANIELA L. BORDON, ; STELLA M. FORMICA; JUAN J. CANTERO; ANA M. VAZQUEZ; MANUEL I. VELASCO; LAURA I. ROSSI

BIOCATALYSIS AND BIOTRANSFORMATION

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2014 vol. 32 p. 348 - 357

1024-2422

Ground fresh fruits of Ligustum lucidum can be effectively used for enantioselective bioreduction of acetophenone to (S)-1-phenylethanol (94% conversion, >99 e.e.%). Using this methodology, several (S)-phenylethanols with very good and excellent enantiomeric excesses (78%-100%) were synthesized. The bioreduction method presented here permitted chiral phenylethanols to be obtained utilizing a technique which is more environmentally friendly than the classical reduction of prochiral ketones. The results reveal the fresh fruits of Ligustrum lucidum to be a promising biocatalyst for the production of key intermediates.