Homochiral fluoro-organic compounds. Synthesis of the two enantiomers of (Z)-3-fluoro-4-phenyl-1-(p-tolylsulphonyl)but-3-en-2-ol through microbial reduction

The reduction of (Z)-3-fluoro-4-phenyl-1-(p-tolylsulphonyl)but-3-en-2-one with growing cultures of Geotrichum candidum and Phanerochaete chrysosporium afforded (S)- and (R)-3-fluoro-4-phenyl-1-(p-tolylsulphonyl)but-3-en-2-ol in enantiomerically pure form