Abstract Baker's yeast treatment of ethyl 2-chloro-3-oxobutanoate 1, diethyl 2- acetylmalonate 2 and ethyl 2-cyano-3-oxobutanoate 3 was effected in order to obtain enantiomerically enriched compounds. In contrast to the reaction of 2 and 3, efficient diastereo-and enantioselective reduction of 1 provided ethyl 2 (R)-chloro-3 (S)- hydroxybutanoate. This product was used as precursor of the 1-ethoxycarbonyl-2 (S)- ...