Production of (R)-1-(4-Bromo-phenyl)-ethanol by locally isolated Aspergillus niger using ram horn peptone

Aspergillus niger EBK-9 was isolated from soil sample. This isolate was evaluated for production of (R)-1-(4-Bromo-phenyl)-ethanol 2 from 1-(4-Bromo-phenyl)-ethanone 1. In this work, the production of the 2 was achieved via fermenter. Glucose, yeast extract and ram horn peptone as medium in fermenter for growth of A. niger was used. A. niger EBK-9 isolate was found to be an effective biocatalyst with excellent enantiomeric excess (>99%) and good conversion (100%) for the production of the 2 in batch culture. The 8.2 mmol/l product from 10 mmol substrate under the optimum conditions could be produced. The yield was calculated as 82%. Because of the easy availability of the fungus besides simple reaction conditions, this process and medium must be potentially useful for production of chiral alcohols.