Metrosideros polymorpha

Austin A. T. and Vitousek P. M. (2000) Precipitation, decomposition and litter decomposability of Metrosideros polymorpha in native forests on Hawai i. J. Ecol. 88(1), 129-138. 

The baker s yeast reduction of (3-keto esters has been extensively studied in the past [36]. Green cell suspension cultures obtained from bryophytes were studied by Speicher et al. in bioconversions for the enantio- or diastereoselective reduction of simple ketones, (3-keto esters, and a,(3-unsaturated carbonyl compounds [37]. These bioreductions proceed according to the Prelog s rule. It has been confirmed that bryophyte cell cultures are generally capable of ADH reductions in reactions with various substrates. One of the four possible stereoisomers was formed from the (3-keto ester 20, the anti-(2S,3S)-20b product, due to the diastereoselective reduction with concomitant DKR through in situ racemization of the substrate via enolization (Scheme 12.17). The ds-(li ,2S)-2-hydroxycyclohexane carboxylate 3a was obtained with Metrosideros polymorpha with 90-94% de and up to 90% ee [37]. 

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