Asymmetric reduction of alkyl 2-oxo-4-arylbutanoates and -but-3-enoates by Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330: Assignment of the absolute configuration of ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-(p-methylphenyl)but-3-enoate by ¹H NMR

Enantioselective bioreduction of alkyl 2-oxo-4-arylbutanoates and 2-oxo-4-arylbut-3-enoates mediated by Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 resulted in the formation of the corresponding (S)-2-hydroxy compounds in high enantiomeric excesses (93-99%) and good isolated yields (58-71%). The absolute configuration of enantiomerically pure ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-(p-methylphenyl)but-3-enoate obtained by the reduction of the corresponding keto ester was assigned by 1H NMR using Mosher's method. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.