Patent ID: 6255087
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: C12P

Abstract:
A process for preparing enantiomerically pure alcohols of the formula I (Ia or Ib) ##STR6##where the substituents have the following meanings:R.sup.1hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkanoyl,R.sup.2 and R.sup.3independently of one another hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkanoyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfinyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfonyl,R.sup.4substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, comprising reducing compounds of the formula II where the substituents R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 have the abovementioned meanings ##STR7##in aqueous solution in the presence ofa) a carbon source and of a microorganism selected from the group consisting of yeasts, fungi or bacteria orb) of a reducing agent orc) of a cofactor and of an alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme, to compounds of the formula I.