Aureobasidium pullulans as a key for the preparation of optical purity (R)-2-(anthracen-9-yl)-2-methoxyacetic acid – The chiral auxiliary reagent in determination of absolute configuration

•(R)-2-(anthracen-9-yl)-2-methoxyacetic acid was obtained using the reduction α-ketoester.•Enzymatic reduction was carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aureobasidium pullulans.•Antimycotic agent Boni Protect containing live A. pullulans cells is the best catalyst.

Optically pure (R)-2-(anthracen-9-yl)-2-methoxyacetic acid ((R)-9-AMA) was obtained. The most important stage of the synthesis generating chirality and ensuring high enantioselectivity was the stage of desymmetrization of prochiral α-ketoester. Enzymatic biotransformation was used in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aureobasidium pullulans. Biotransformation using S. cerevisiae leads to 65–70% enantiomeric excess (R-isomer). The antimycotic agent Boni Protect containing live cells of A. pullulans allowed to obtain enantiomerically pure (R)-9-AMA.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide