Enzymatic reduction method for the preparation of halohydrins

Abstract

An enzymatic reduction method, particularly a stereoselective enzymatic reduction method, for the preparation of halohydrins from haloketones. The halohydrin products are particularly useful in the preparation of epoxides, which may be employed as intermediates in the preparation of protease inhibitors such as retroviral protease inhibitors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for the enzymatic reduction of a compound of the formula I or a salt thereof: where BOC is tert-butoxycarbonyl, to form a compound of the formular II or a salt thereof: ##STR42## comprising the steps of contacting said compound of the formula I or salt thereof with an oxidoreductase enzyme-supplying microorganism or oxidoreductase enzyme-containing material obtained from said microorganism, capable of catalyzing the reduction of said compound of the formula I or salt thereof to form said compound of the formula II or salt thereof, and effecting said reduction, where said microorgaism is selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, ATCC 8739; Streptomyces nodosus, ATCC 14899; Pullularia pullulans, ATCC 16624; Pichia pinus, ATCC 28780; Caldariomyces fumago, ATCC 11925; Candida boidinii, ATCC 26175: Pseudomonas cepacia, ATCC 29351; Nocardioides albus, ATCC 55424; Bacillus subtilis, ATCC 9799; Bacillus cereus, ATCC 27348; Gliocladium virens, ATCC 44327; Schizophyllum commune, ATCC 38548; Aureobasidium pullulans, ATCC 42457; Pseudomonas sp., ATCC 21808; Mortierella ramanniana, ATCC 24786, and Pichia methanolic, ATCC 56510.