Enantioselective bioreduction of ethyl 4,4,4-trihalide-3-oxobutanoate by Kluyveromyces marxianus

Resting cells of Kluyveromyces marxianus were used in the bioreduction of ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxobutanoate and ethyl 4,4,4-trichloro-3-oxobutanoate with 81% and 4% yields and 29% and 73% enantiomeric excess, respectively. The differences observed were attributed to the tri-halide structures.