Asymmetric synthesis of syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2-chloro-3-hydroxy esters via an engineered ketoreductase-catalyzed dynamic reductive kinetic resolution

We report here a generic,green synthesis of 17 valuable syn-aryl-(2S,3R)-2–chloro-3–hydroxy esters(syn-(2S,3R)-1)in 73%-99%isolated yields along with 6.1:1–83:1 dr and 31%~>99%ee,through dynamic reductive kinetic resolution of racemic arylα–chloroβ-keto esters(2)catalyzed by an engineered ketoreductase which was obtained via ep PCR-based directed evolution.The hectogram scale synthesis of syn-(2S,3R)-1b at a substrate concentration of 120 g/L showcased the application potential of the biocatalytic method developed presently.