Searching for local biocatalysts: Bioreduction of aldehydes using plant roots of the Province of Córdoba (Argentina)

A screening for the capacity of wild plants growing in the Province of Córdoba to bioreduce benzaldehyde was carried out. From this study, thirteen species showed quantitative reduction yields to benzyl alcohol, with Conium maculatum showing the best reduction efficiency. This plant was also tested against different substituted benzaldehydes, and quantitative yields of substituted benzylic alcohols were obtained, except for vanillin, where only 27% of vanillic alcohol was formed (main product: 2-methoxyphenol at a 73% yield). A scaling study of the reaction using C. maculatum and benzaldehyde was carried out, and it was observed that high substrate–catalyst relationships reduced the efficiency of the reaction due to side reactions of oxidation. The bioreduction method presented here permits substituted benzylic alcohols to be obtained using an environmentally friendly methodology, with excellent yields produced on a laboratory scale.

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► A screening for biocatalysts for the reduction of aldehydes was made.
► Conium maculatum showed the best results in the reduction of substituted benzaldehydes.
► Monosubstituted benzyl alcohols were obtained in high yields.