Biocatalytic Approaches to One Building Block

For the synthesis of a specific target molecule various enzymatic transformations are applicable. 

These examples illustrate that biocatalytic strategies can initiate innovative solutions for problems like cross aldol chemistry, regio- and stereoselective reduction of 

3-diketones, stereoselective formation of 1,3-diols, or problematic desymmetrization of prochiral compounds. Additionally, several remarkable achievements have been made by optimizing the biocatalytic step for application on the industrial scale. 

Product concentrations of 63 g L in the organic phase were obtained with an isolated yield of 95% for the ADH-catalyzed transformation (route A) and much higher product concentrations might also be achievable [63]. 

Patel et al. [64] used cell suspensions of Acinetohacter calcoaceticus for the stereoselective direduction of ethyl 6-benzyloxy-3,5-dioxohexanoate (route B). The corresponding diol was isolated in 85 % yield with an ee of 97 %  

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