| abstract |
A process for the preparation of an alcohol of formula (I) A-CH(CH3)-CH2-OH, where A is an aromatic or heteroaromatic residue, comprising the reduction of a corresponding racemic 2-arylpropionyl aldehyde of formula (II) A-CH(CH3)-CHO, where A is defined as above, by means of a suitable enzyme in a reaction medium formed by an aqueous/organic solvent system, is disclosed. The process allows to obtain said alcohols with very high yields and high optical purity. Alcohols can be used in the industrial synthesis of 2-arylpropionic acids, for example Ibuprofen, Carprofen, Fenoprofen, Flurbiprofen, Ketoprofen, Loxoprofen, Naproxen and Thiaprofenic acid. |