Preparing substituted propanone compounds e.g. (S)-levodione, useful e.g. additives in the food industry, comprises contacting substituted propenone compounds with a microorganism Rhodococcus erythropolis

摘要

Preparing substituted propanone compounds (I) by enantioselective enone-reduction of substituted propenone compounds (II), comprises contacting the compounds (II) with a microorganism or parts of microorganism, which are capable of enantioselective reduction, where the microorganism is Rhodococcus erythropolis. Preparing substituted propanone compounds of formula (I) by enantioselective enone-reduction of substituted propenone compounds of formula (R 2>-C(=O)-C(R 1>)=CH-R 3>) (II), comprises contacting the compounds (II) with a microorganism or parts of microorganism, which are capable of enantioselective reduction, where the microorganism is Rhodococcus erythropolis. R 1> : 1-6C-alkyl; either R 2>, R 3> : -1-6C-alkyl, -2-6C-alkenyl, -2-6C-alkynyl or -6-12C-aryl (all optionally substituted with H, halo, nitro and/or cyano), H, OH, halo, nitro, -C=OR 4>, cyano, -1-4C-hydroxyalkyl or -1-6C-alkoxy, where the carbon skeleton of -1-6C-alkyl contains N, O, S and/or C=O groups and/or at least one double bond; and R 4> : -1-6C-alkyl, -2-6C-alkenyl, -2-6C-alkynyl or -6-12C-aryl (all optionally substituted with OH, halo, nitro and/or cyano), H, OH, halo, nitro, cyano, -1-4C-hydroxyalkyl or -1-6C-alkoxy, where the carbon skeleton of -1-6C-alkyl contains N, O, S and/or C=O groups and/or at least one double bond; or R 2>R 3> : a bridge of 3-10 methylene units (optionally substituted with 1-6C-alkyl, OH, halo, nitro and/or cyano) or connected with one another over C=O group; or R 4>R 2> : a bridge of 3-10 methylene units, where the methylene units are optionally substituted with 1-6C-alkyl, OH, halo, nitro and/or cyano. [Image].