Enantioselective Benzylic Hydroxylation with Pseudomonas monteilii TA‐5: A Simple Method for the Syntheses of (R)‐Benzylic Alcohols Containing Reactive Functional Groups

Abstract Highly enantioselective benzylic hydroxylations of benzene derivatives ( 1–4 ) containing reactive functional groups were achieved for the first time with Pseudomonas monteilii TA‐5 as biocatalyst, giving the corresponding ( R )‐benzylic alcohols 5 – 8 in 93–99% ee as the only products. Preparative biotransformations were demonstrated by the biohydroxylation of 1 and 2 with resting cells of P. monteilii TA‐5 to afford ( R )‐ 5 in 94% ee and 66% yield and ( R )‐ 6 in 94% ee and 56% yield, respectively. The highly enantioselective biohydroxylations represent a simple access to ( R )‐benzylic alcohols containing reactive functional groups that are useful pharmaceutical intermediates and versatile chiral building blocks.