Mono- and biphasic aqueous-organic solvent systems (50% v v(-1)) as well as micro-aqueous organic systems (99% v v(-1)) were successfully employed for the biocatalytic reduction of ketones catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase ADH-A from Rhodococcus ruber via hydrogen transfer. A clear correlation between the log P of the organic solvent and the enzyme activity-the higher, the better-was found. The use of organic solvents allowed highly stereoselective enzymatic carbonyl reductions at substrate concentrations close to 2.0 M.