Simple preparation of optically pure bis(trifluoromethyl)-alkanediols through lipase-catalyzed reaction

Chapter 9. Enzyme chemistry

“…~~~~ This area has been widened by a study into the relative diastereoselective reduction of chiral organometallic or organic deuterioaldehydes which demonstrates the importance of both planar chirality and aldehyde configuration in the diastereoselection process.63 Facial diastereoselectivity of spiro[4.5]decane-1,4-dione derivatives ranged from excellent to non-existent when using bakers' yeast to mediate reduction. Whereas better results from sodium borohydride reduction, indicated influence from stereoelectronic phenomena, from which the yeast-mediated reductions could not benefit significant-Hitherto unprecedented, the reduction of vinylic nitro functions was used to prepare iy.64 16 17…”