Patent ID: 7723065

Claim:
A method of reducing an organic compound of Formula IV: wherein: R 8 is an optionally substituted aromatic group; R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are each independently selected from H, hydroxy, C 1-6 alkoxy, mercapto, C 1-6 alkylthio, amino, C 1-6 alkylamino, di(C 1-6 alkyl)amino, carboxy, C 1-6 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1-6 aryloxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, C 1-6 alkylcarbamoyl, di-C 1-6 alkylcarbamoyl, C 1-6 cycloalkylcarbamoyl, C 1-6 alkylsulphonyl, arylsulphonyl, C 1-6 alkylaminosulphonyl, di(C 1-6 alkyl)aminosulphonyl, nitro, cyano, cyano-C 1-6 alkyl, hydroxyC 1-6 alkyl, amino-C 1-6 alkyl, C 1-6 alkanoylamino, C 1-6 alkoxycarbonylamino, C 1-6 alkanoyl, C 1-6 alkanoyloxy, C 1-6 alkyl, halo, haloC 1-6 alkyl, or haloC 1-6 alkoxy, alkoximino, hydroximino, and alkylimino; the method comprising subjecting the organic compound to a yeast-water paste of a yeast mediated reduction in the presence of an amount of water that is sufficient for enzymes to be hydrated and but insufficient to provide a visibly separate water layer wherein the reduction is conducted in the absence of any additional solvents, and wherein a water-to-yeast ratio is up to 1.5 ml/g.