Asymmetric Synthesis of (R)-1-Phenylethanol

Optically active secondary alcohols are valuable precursors for synthesis of medicines and substances for agriculture. Previously, the possibility of stereoselective synthesis of (S)-(–)-1-phenylethanol and (R)-(+)-1-phenylethanol from acetophenone under the action of biocatalysts of various stereo directions was shown. In order to increase the yield and optical purity of the target less accessible (R)-(+)-1-phenylethanol, the possibility of using various exogenous reducing agents (ethanol, isopropanol or glucose) in the reaction of enantioselective bioreduction of acetophenone catalyzed by Phaseolus vulgaris plant cells with R-reductase activity was investigated.