1.
Org Lett
; 1(12): 1879-80, 1999 Dec 16.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10836048
ABSTRACT
[formula: see text] The bakers' yeast mediated reduction of 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitrile (1) proceeds at 4 degrees C to give exclusively (S)-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanenitrile (3) in 59% yield. This is in contrast to the corresponding reaction at room temperature which yields a mixture of reduction and alkylation products. This work demonstrates the use of low temperature to improve yeast selectivity.