Asymmetric bioreductions of β-nitro acrylates as a route to chiral β2-Amino acids

Reductions of beta-nitroacrylates by Saccharomyces carlsbergensis old yellow enzyme is the key step in a concise route to optically active beta(2)-amino acids. The enzymatic reductions occur with 87 - 96% ee, with larger substrates providing greater stereoselectivities. This work extends enantioselective enzymatic alkene reductions to include acyclic systems with weakly coordinating substituents.