Asymmetric Bioreduction of 4-Chloroacetophenone Catalyzed by Daucus carota Cells in Water and Organic Solvents

Enantioselective reduction of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanone catalyzed by D. carota cells in water, organic solvents, and binary systems has been studied. We have found conditions that make it possible to obtain ( S )-(–)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol by bioreduction of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanone in water in the presence of an available biocatalyst D. carota and ethanol (3%) with a yield 63% (98% ee), in the presence of isopropanol (3%) with a yield of 66% (98% ee) or in the presence of glucose—with a yield of 50% (99% ee). The rate of reduction of the initial ketone by D. carota cells in the water : isooctane, water:acetonitrile, water : 1,4-dioxane system is significantly lower than in the case of a similar reduction in an aqueous medium.