Baker's yeast-induced asymmetric reduction of α-ketosulfides: synthesis of optically active 1-(benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-2-alkanols, 2-alkanols, and thiiranes
1-(Benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-2-alkanols 3 were prepared in very high enantiomeric excess by baker's yeast-induced asymmetric reduction of 1-(benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-2-alkanones 1. Conversion of 3 into optically active simple 2-alkanols 4 and thiiranes 2 by reductive desulfurization and base treatment, respectively, is also described. The absolute configuration of the new compounds synthesized has been established by chemical ...