Efficient resolution of prostereogenic arylaliphatic ketones using a recombinant alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas fluorescens

A broad range of arylaliphatic ketones is efficiently reduced to the corresponding optically active (R)-alcohols by a recombinant alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFADH) produced by overexpression in Escherichia coli. PFADH shows high activity and stereoselectivity in the reduction of acetophenone and various derivatives (45-99% e.e.), as well as in the reduction of 3-oxobutyric acid methyl ester (> 99% e.e.). The highest activity was observed between 10 and 20 degreesC. The cofactor NADH can be efficiently recycled by the addition of 10-20% (v/v) of iso-propanol. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.