Reduction processes biocatalyzed by Vigna unguiculata

Whole cells from the Brazilian beans feijão de corda (Vigna unguiculata) have been employed as biocatalysts in different bioreduction processes. Good to excellent selectivities can be obtained in the reduction of aromatic and aliphatic ketones, as well as β-ketoesters, depending on the conversions and the chemoselectivity on the substrate structure. This biocatalyst was also able to reduce the nitro moiety of different aromatic nitro compounds, showing as well enoate reductase activity, and chemoselectively catalyzing the double bond reduction of 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one with moderate conversion.

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