Using water-miscible ionic liquids to improve the biocatalytic anti-Prelog asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones with whole cells of Acetobacter sp. CCTCC M209061

▸ Acetobacter sp. was able to efficiently catalyze asymmetric reduction of ketone. ▸ Use of water-miscible ILs can markedly improve the whole cell-based reductions. ▸ Various ILs exerted significant but different effects on the reaction. ▸ The best performance of the microbial cells was observed with C2OHMIM·NO3. ▸ The efficient biocatalytic process was feasible on a 400-mL preparative scale.