Substituent Position‐Controlled Stereoselectivity in Enzymatic Reduction of Diaryl‐ and Aryl(heteroaryl)methanones

We report here the discovery of a novel ketoreductase (KRED), named KmCR2, with a broad substrate spectrum on bioreduction of sterically bulky diaryl‐ and aryl(heteroaryl)methanones. The position of the substituent on aromatic rings ( meta versus para or ortho ) was revealed to control the stereospecificity of KmCR2. The stereoselective preparation of both enantiomers of diaryl‐ or aryl(heteroaryl)methanols using strategically engineered substrates with a traceless directing group (bromo group) showcased the potential application of this substrate‐controlled bioreduction reaction. The combined use of substrate engineering and protein engineering, was demonstrated to be a useful strategy in efficiently improving stereoselectivity or switching stereopreference of enzymatic processes.