Method for the enzymatic production of chiral 1-acylated 1,2-diols

1 . A method for the production of a chiral compound of the formula (I),

R 1 being identical or different and being H or an organic radical, where a biotransformation composition comprising a compound of the formula (II),

an oxidoreductase, a redox cofactor, and a cosubstrate are reacted to form the chiral compound (I), and isolating the chiral compound (I).

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is identical or different and is H or C 1-20 alkyl, C 2-20 alkenyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl or C 5-20 heteroaryl, where one or more carbon atoms can be replaced by atoms selected from the group B, N, O, Si, P and S, and where one or more carbon atoms can be substituted by F, Cl, Br, I, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl, C 5-20 heteroaryl, CN, NH 2 , NO or NO 2 .

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is identical or different and is H or C 1-20 alkyl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl or C 5-20 heteroaryl, where one or more carbon atoms can be substituted by F, Cl, C 3-8 cycloalkyl, C 6-20 aryl or C 5-20 heteroaryl.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is H.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidoreductase is a carbonyl reductase having R-specificity.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the R-specific carbonyl reductase comprises a secondary ADH or a fatty acid synthetase.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the R-specific carbonyl reductase comprises an LB-ADH from Lactobacillus brevis.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one redox cofactor is a compound selected from the group consisting of NAD, NADP, NADH, NADPH, and salts thereof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cosubstrate is a compound which is enzymatically oxidized as reducing agent, electrons being transferred to NAD thereby generating NADH, or to NADP thereby generating NADPH.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonyl reductase is an alcohol dehydrogenase and the cosubstrate is an alcohol.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the alcohol is isopropanol or 2-butanol.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein starting materials of the general formula (II) are converted to a compound of the formula (I) with a conversion efficiency >80%.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein starting materials of the general formula (II) are converted to a compound of the formula (I) with a conversion efficiency >90%.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of the formula (I) is extracted from the reaction batch by means of a water-immiscible organic solvent, or is separated by distillation.

15 . A biotransformation composition suitable for use in the method of claim 1 , comprising fermentor cells containing a CR enzyme; a compound of the formula (II); at least one redox cofactor selected from the group consisting of NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH, and salts thereof; at least one cosubstrate selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, 2-butanol and glucose; and when glucose is a cosubstrate, a GDH cofactor-regenerating enzyme.

16 . The composition of claim 15 containing between 1% (v/v) and 40% (v/v), based on the total composition, of fermentation medium having fermentor cells having a biomass fraction of 0.05-2% (w/v) containing a CR enzyme; a compound of the formula (II) in an amount of 10% (w/v) to 60% (w/v) of the total batch; and between 10% (w/v) and 50% (w/v), based on the total batch, of a cosubstrate selected from the group isopropanol and 2-butanol; and a redox cofactor in an amount between 10 μM and 200 μM.

17 . The composition of claim 15 , wherein the CR enzyme is an ADH.

18 . The composition of claim 15 , wherein the compound of the formula (II) is acetoxyacetone (R 1 ═H).

19 . A compound of the general formula (I), R 1 being H ((R)-1-acetoxy-2-propanol).