Abstract Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) were identified as suitable enzymes for the reduction of the corresponding α, α-dihalogenated ketones, obtaining optically pure β, β- dichloro-or β, β-dibromohydrins with excellent conversions and enantiomeric excess. Among the different biocatalysts tested, ADHs from Rhodococcus ruber (ADH-A), Ralstonia sp.(RasADH), Lactobacillus brevis (LBADH), and PR2ADH proved to be the most efficient ...