Biocatalytic reduction of a racemic selenocyclohexanone by Brazilian basidiomycetes

Abstract An efficient synthesis of the chiral cyclic secondary alcohols, trans -2-(phenylseleno)cyclohexanol 1a and cis -2-(phenylseleno)cyclohexanol 1a , was obtained by enzymatic reduction of 2-(phenylseleno)cyclohexanone 1 using whole fungal cells. Five strains of white-rot basidiomycetes were examined; Irpex lacteus CCB 196, Pycnoporus sanguineus CCB 196, Trametes rigida CCB 285, Trametes versicolor CCB 202 and Trichaptum byssogenum CCB 203. Cells of T. rigida CCB 285 gave alcohols cis -( RS )- 1a and trans -( SS )- 1a in high enantiomeric excesses (ca. 99%).