PURPOSE: To obtain a secondary alcohol compound useful as an intermediate for the synthesis of a renin inhibitor in high efficiency by the enantio-selective reduction of a specific β-keto compound with a microorganism, especially a yeast.
CONSTITUTION: An ethanol solution containing 0.1-0.2% of a ketostathione of the formula I (R1 is benzyl, 4-methylcyclohexylmethyl or 4-t- butylcyclohexylmethyl; R2 is methyl or ethyl; R3 is H, benzyloxycarbonyl, t- butyloxycarbonyl, etc.) is added to a 10-20% glucose solution containing 1-2% of cultured cell of a yeast such as Hansenula ciferrii DSM 70780, Hansenula saturnus DSM 70728 and Hansenula anomala DSM 70130 and the yeast is cultured at 28°C under slight aeration while continuously stirring for 48-72hr to obtain the objective secondary alcohol compound of the formula II.
HARII SHIYUWARUTSU
MARUCHIN HAINRITSUHI
