(R)-Ethyl 4-t-Butoxy-3-hydroxybutanoate, a Versatile Chiral Building Block for EPC (Enantiomerically Pure Compound) Syntheses, by Yeast Reduction of Ethyl 4-t-Butoxy-3-oxobutanoate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1986-31468

Reduction of ethyl 4-t-butoxy-3-oxobutanoate with fermenting yeats yields (R)-ethyl 4-t-butoxy-3-hydroxybutanoate in 97percent e.e.Since the protective group is readily removed from the product of reduction, the present procedure provides a simple entry to the "world of chiral blocks" formally derived from (R)-malic acid.