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 ATCC No. 202210 or fungal isolate Geotrichum candidum ATCC No. 74487, 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.