| Abstract: | A series of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones, as well as some nitrocompounds were reduced using whole plant cells
from Lens culinaris seeds. In addition, we also investigated the possibility of enzymatic ester hydrolysis to explore the potential of these
seeds. The reduced ketones products were obtained in yields of 8 ∼ 82% and enantiomeric excess of 39 ∼ 75%. Aldehydes were
more reactive than ketones with high chemical yield (95→99%), whereas the aromatic nitrocompounds showed low (2%) to high
(> 99%) conversion depending upon the nature and position of the aromatic ring substituents. Ester hydrolysis by the Lens culinaris was quite effective with the ester p-nitrophenyl acetate (> 99% conversion). |
