Demonstration of Redox Potential of Metschnikowia koreensis for Stereoinversion of Secondary Alcohols1,2-Diols

Abstract EN

The present work reports the Metschnikowia koreensis-catalyzed one-pot deracemization of secondary alcohols/1,2-diols and their derivatives with in vivo cofactor regeneration.

Reaction is stereoselective and proceeds with sequential oxidation of (R)-secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketones and the reduction of the ketones to (S)-secondary alcohols.

Method is applicable to a repertoire of racemic aryl secondary alcohols and 1,2-diols establishing a wide range of substrate specificity of M.

koreensis.

This ecofriendly method afforded the product in high yield (88%) and excellent optical purity (>98% ee), minimizing the requirement of multistep reaction and expensive cofactor.