Synthesis of R -l-Phenylethanol

Acetophenone (608 mg, 5.0 mmol) and freshly prepared G. candidum IFO 5767 (30 g wet wt) were placed in a 500 mL Sakaguchi flask containing 180 mL of distilled water and equipped with a poromeric silicone plug. The mixture was shaken at 130 rpm for 1 day at 30 °C. 

The procedure is very easy to reproduce and the asymmetric reduction may be applied to a wide range of aromatic ketones and keto esters such as ethyl 3-oxopentanoate. 

XAD-7 was washed with 1 M hydrochloric acid, 1 M aq. sodium hydroxide, water and methanol before use. 

Purification by column chromatography can be omitted when the reaction proceeds to completion. Vacuum distillation using Kugelrohr apparatus is needed to remove fatty acids contained in the biomass. 

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The catalytic hydrosilylation of acetophenone or t-butyl methyl ketone with diethyl-, methylphenyl- or diphenylsilane in the presence of rhodium(I) catalysts containing R,R)- + ) or (S jS H —)-170, followed by acid cleavage of the intermediate silyl ethers, affords the respective alcohols with optical yields of 10-42% ". The synthesis of (R)-( + )-l-phenylethanol from acetophenone and diethylsilane in conjunction with the catalyst derived from (5,S )-(—)-170 was the most effective reaction (equation 28). In... 

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