Effect of high hydrostatic pressure and high pressure homogenization on the enantioselectivity of microbial reduction

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure and high pressure homogenization on the microbial reductions of the model prochiral ketones 1a-c is described. Various strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica are utilized in the reduction and higher enantioselectivities are generally achieved together with lower yields compared with the results obtained at atmospheric pressure. In some cases both increasing yields and inversion of enantioselectivity are reported. The effects of the hydrostatic and the homogenization pressure are also compared with the cell viability.