C. Syldatk, H. Andree, A. Stoffregen, F. Wagner, B. Stumpf, L. Ernst, H. Zilch, Reinhold Tacke

• Growing and resting cells of the yeast Trigonapsis variabilis (DSM 70714) can be used for the enantioselective reduction of the organosilicon compound acetyldimethylphenylsilane (J) to give optically active (R)-(1-hydroxyethyl)dimethylphenylsilane [(R)-2] in good yields. The enantiomeric purity of the isolated product was determined tobe 62-86% ee depending on the substrate concentration used. Both substrate and product caused an inhibition of the reaction at concentrations higher than 0.35 and 0.5 g/1, respectively. Besides, higher substrateGrowing and resting cells of the yeast Trigonapsis variabilis (DSM 70714) can be used for the enantioselective reduction of the organosilicon compound acetyldimethylphenylsilane (J) to give optically active (R)-(1-hydroxyethyl)dimethylphenylsilane [(R)-2] in good yields. The enantiomeric purity of the isolated product was determined tobe 62-86% ee depending on the substrate concentration used. Both substrate and product caused an inhibition of the reaction at concentrations higher than 0.35 and 0.5 g/1, respectively. Besides, higher substrate and product concentrations led to increased formation of the by-product 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-diphenyldisiloxane. Considering the limiting substrate and product concentrations, it was possible to use the same biomass at least 5 times without significant loss of enzyme activity. 3-Methyl-3-phenyl-2-butanone (5) and acetyldimethylphenylgermane (7), which represent carbon and germanium analogues of 1, were also found to be accepted as substrates by Trigonapsis variabilis (DSM 70714). The reduction rates of the silicon {1) and germanium compound {7) were much higher than the transformation rate of the corresponding carbon analogue 5.…