Stereoselective microbial reduction for the preparation of 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(R)-3(S)-hydroxy-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl)-4(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone

摘要

A process for the stereoselective microbial reduction of compound of formula (II) to compound of formula (I) comprising adding compound of formula (II) to a medium, medium and buffer, medium and solvent, or medium and a mixture of buffer and solvent containing a microorganism, preferably Rhodococcus fascians or fungal isolate Geotrichum candidum, incubating the resulting mixture, and isolating a hydroxy compound of formula (I), is described. The compound of formula (I) is a serum cholesterol lowering agent.