Continuous coenzyme dependent stereoselective synthesis of sulcatol by alcohol dehydrogenase.

6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one was reduced to sulcatol ((+)-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol) by using alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobium brockii in a continuous process. The cofactor NADP(H) was retained by a charged UF-membrane and regenerated by oxidation of isopropanol to acetone. Use of native NADP in a charged UF-membrane reactor proved to be superior to use of PEG-coupled NADP in a uncharged UF-membrane reactor.