Application of Conventional Heating and Microwave Irradiation for the Biocatalytic Reduction of Fluoroacetophenones by Thermophilic Bacteria

This paper describes the bioreduction of four fluoroacetophenones with thermophilic bacteria (Bacillus sp. FPZSP005, B. subtilis FPZSP088, B. licheniformis FPZSP055 and BC-FPZSP051). The reduction reactions were performed under microwave irradiation and the thermophilic bacteria of the Bacillus genus provided moderate conversions to fluoroalcohols with yields in the 26-42% ranges and 5-62% e.e. When the reactions were carried out under conventional heating, they showed high conversions and selectivities (up to > 99% e.e.). This is the first study in the literature on the use of microwave irradiation with thermophilic bacteria applied on biocatalysis.