The enantiomeric purity of alcohols formed by enzymatic reduction of ketones can be improved by optimisation of the temperature and by using a high co-substrate concentration
The stereoselective reduction of ketones by alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobium brockii was studied in organic reaction media, 2-Propanol was used as co-substrate to regenerate the coenzyme NADPH. The enantiomeric excess of the alcohol formed from the ketone decreased during the course of the reaction (from 53 to 0% e.e. in the formation of (R)-2-butanol). This was interpreted as being due