Coconut water (Cocos nucifera L.)-A new biocatalyst system for organic synthesis

A series of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones was reduced using plant cell preparations from coconut juice, Cocos nucifera, also called ACC (agua-de-coco do Ceara). The reduced products were typically obtained in excellent yields (%) and with very high enantiomeric excess. Esters, amides, and nitrobenzene, yielded acids, amines and an azoxyderivative with satisfactory results. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.