Stereoselective Reduction of Ketone and Enone using Plant Cell Cultures

Abstract

The biotransformation of a ketone and enone by plant cell cultures was investigated. It was found that the cultured cells of Marchantia polymorpha reduced preferentially the carbonyl group of 2-pentylcyclopentanone to produce the corresponding anti-2-pentylcyclopentanol. Hence, 2-pentylcyclopent-2-enone was hydrogenated by the cultured cells of Catharanthus roseus to give (R)-2-pentylcyclopentanone with high stereoselectivity.