Substituent effects on the stereochemical outcome of the baker's yeast-mediated biotransformation of α-hydroxy- and α-acetoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran-2-yl-ethanones

In this Letter the baker's yeast-mediated biotransformation of variously substituted α-hydroxy- and α-acetoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran-2-yl-ethanones is described. The stereochemical outcome of the reactions was strongly influenced by the nature of the substituents on the phenyl ring.