Enzymatic reduction of α-substituted ketones with concomitant dynamic kinetic resolution

•Enzymatic reduction of racemic α-substituted ketones and simultaneous dynamic kinetic resolution.•Stereoselective preparation of homochiral α-substituted chiral alcohols.•Reductions of N-protected α-amino ketones provided N-protected α-amino alcohols in high de and ee.•Choice of buffer is crucial for the reduction of an α-methyl ketone to the corresponding alcohol in high deand ee.•Glucose dehydrogenase is acting as a ketoreductase.

Racemic α-substituted ketones were converted to the corresponding chiral alcohols with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities using enzymatic reduction with concomitant dynamic kinetic resolution. Reductions of N-protected α-amino ketones by microorganisms and commercial enzymes provided N-protected α-amino alcohols. Choice of buffer was found to be a crucial factor for the successful reduction and simultaneous dynamic resolution of an α-methyl ketone to the corresponding chiral alcohol.

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