Patent ID: 7632665

Claim:
A process for producing an alcohol comprising: a) enzymatically reducing a carbonyl compound in a reaction mixture comprising: i) said carbonyl compound, wherein the carbonyl compound comprises a phenyl aldehyde or an unsymmetric phenyl ketone; ii) a first dehydrogenase enzyme, wherein the first dehydrogenase enzyme reduces said carbonyl compound to form said alcohol; iii) a substrate, wherein said substrate comprises a formate or formic acid; iv) a second dehydrogenase enzyme wherein said second dehydrogenase enzyme oxidizes the substrate; v) a cofactor for both said first dehydrogenase enzyme and said second dehydrogenase enzyme, wherein said cofactor is selected from the group consisting of NADH and NADPH; and vi) an aqueous solvent that does not comprise an added surfactant or an organic solvent, wherein the reaction mixture is in the form of an emulsion or suspension due to the concentration of said carbonyl compound being higher than or equal to its solubility limit in said aqueous solvent; and b) recovering said alcohol.