Microbiological reduction of 15-ketoprostaglandin intermediates

摘要

A process for the preparation of a 15 alpha -hydroxyprostaglandin intermediate of the formula I, wherein R1 is phenoxymethyl, phenoxymethyl substituted on the phenyl moiety by halogen or trifluoromethyl, or alkyl of 1-5 carbon atoms, and R2 is hydrogen, acetyl, benzoyl or p-phenylbenzoyl, which comprises stereospecifically microbiologically reducing a corresponding 15-ketone of the formula II, with a strain of the microorganism Kloeckera, Saccharomyces or Hansenula.