Biotransformations using clostridia: stereospecific reductions of a β-keto ester
Abstract
The reduction of methyle 4-(4-chlorophenylthio)-3-oxobutanoate 1 by clostridia has been studied. Clostridium pasteurianum ATCC 6013, C. tyrobutyricum DSM 1460 and C. kluyveri NCIB 10680 gave the D-(3S) reduction product 2, whereas C. kluyveri DSM 555 gave the L-(3R) reduction product 3. The products could be obtained in higher optical purities than by yeast reductions.