Microbial reduction of 2-chloro-3-aryl-3-oxopropionic acid esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)60181-8

2-Chloro-3-aryl-3-oxopropionic acid esters are reduced by microorganisms to syn- and/or anti-2-chloro-3-hydroxy-3-arylpropionates, in competition with dechlorination and decarboxylation reactions. Using selected strains, it is possible to obtain enantiomerically pure chlorohydroxyesters, which were converted to the corresponding phenylglycidic esters with high stereospecificity.