Biocatalytic reduction of ketones by a semi-continuous flow process using supercritical carbon dioxide.

The immobilized resting-cell of Geotrichum candidum was used as a catalyst for the reduction of a ketone in a semi-continuous flow process using supercritical carbon dioxide for the first time; it was also applied for the asymmetric reduction of a ketone and resulted in excellent enantioselectivity (ee > 99%) and a higher space-time yield than that of the corresponding batch process.