Asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of secondary alcohols by reduction with a single microbe

Both enantiomers of secondary alcohols were prepared by reduction of the corresponding ketones with a single microbe. Thus, reduction of aromatic ketones with Geotrichum candidum IFO 5767 afforded the corresponding (S)-alcohols in an excellent ee when amberlite™ XAD-7, a hydrophobic polymer, was added to the reaction system and the same microbe afforded (R)-alcohols also in an excellent ee when the reaction was conducted under aerobic conditions.