Abstract The reduction of unsubstituted or methoxy-substituted (±)-2-carboxyethyl-1- tetralones by selected microorganisms affords optically active 1-hydroxy-2-carboxyethyl tetralins which can be used as versatile asymmetric synthons, for example in the preparation of biologically active methoxy-substituted 2R-aminotetralins. 1R, 2R-(cis)-hydroxyesters of high optical purity are obtained with yeast strains, while the use of filamentous fungi leads ...
