Highly enantioselective reduction of the C-C double bond of N-phenyl-2-methyl- and N-phenyl-2,3-dimethyl- maleimides by fungal strains

The C-C double bond of non-substituted and substituted maleimides were hydrogenated to the corresponding succinimides by fungal strains. 2- and 2,3-methylated-phenyl-maleimides were enantioselectively reduced to (R)-N-phenyl-3-methylsuccinimide and to trans-(R,R)-N-phenyl-2,3-dimethylsuccinimide respectively by Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus (conversion 96 to 99%), Fusarium gramineorum and Penicillium sp (conversion: 37 and 39%), with 99% ee. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.