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Microorganisms that hydrolyze methyl2-phenylpropionate (1) or reduce 4-phenyl-2-butanone (3) were screened from 250 type cultures. Several Aspergilli and two bacteria hydrolyzed ester 1, and Asp. sojae lAM 2703 preferentially hydrolyzed (R)-isomer of (±)-1, whereas Bacillus subtilis var. niger lFO 3108 and Mycobacterium smegma tis ATCC 10143 preferentially hydrolyzed (S)-isomer. The hydrolysis of the related esters of 1 with these organisms was also examined.

Microorganisms that hydrolyze methyl 2-phenylpropionate (1) or reduce 4-phenyl-2-butanone (3) were screened from 250 type cultures. Several Aspergilli and two bacteria hydrolyzed ester 1, and Asp. sojae IAM 2703 preferentially hydrolyzed CR)-isomer of (±)-l, whereas Bacillus subtilis var. niger IFO 3108 and Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC10143 preferentially hydrolyzed (5)-isomer. The hydrolysis of the related esters of 1 with these organisms was also examined. Esters containing an asymmetric center(s) at the alcohol part are asymmetrically hydrolyzed with microorganisms or microbial enzymes,1} but asymmetric hydrolyses of esters having an asymmetric center(s) at the acid part are scarcely known. There are many useful optically active acids or esters, e.g. mandelic