No abstract

Reduction of acetophenone by Daucus carota hairy root cultures afforded (S)-phenylethanol in high yield (96%) and excellent enantiomeric excess (ee>or=98%). Aromatic ketones, keto esters, and a simple aliphatic ketone were reduced with good stereoselectivity (ee=62-98%) and moderate to high chemical yields (25-90%).

Enterolactone, a lignan isolated from biological fluids of animals and humans, was synthesized via enzymatic desymmetrization of 2-(3-methoxybenzyl)-1,3-propanediol.Key words: enterolactone, synthesis, lipase, desymmetrization, lignan.

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Dolabriferol is a marine polypropionate characterized by an unusual noncontiguous carbon backbone. The two polypropionate subunits are linked by an ester function. The protected alcohol moiety of dolabriferol was synthesized via the enzymatic desymmetrization of meso-(anti-anti)-2,4-dimethyl-1,3,5-pentanetriol.