The baker's yeast reduction of (E)-1-phenyl-1, 2-alkanedione 2-(O-methyloxime), PhC (O) C (NOMe) R (R= Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu), gave the corresponding optically active alcohols PhCH2OHC (NOMe) R in 88–99% enantiomeric excess and 48–75% chemical yield. The ...