A concise highly chemo- and enantioselective preparation of (S)-2-ethyl-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol 6 (65% yield, >99% e.e.) via extractive biocatalysis by the yeast Pichia stipitis CCT 2617-mediated reduction of 2-ethyl-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one 5 adsorbed on Amberlite(TM) XAD-7 is reported. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.