Hülya AKGÜN*° , Ayla BALKAN*, Barkin BERK*, Hüsne URGAN*, Emine KARAASLAN**

*Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 06100, Ankara, TURKEY
**Middle East Technical University, Chemistry Department , Inönü Bulvari, 06531 Ankara, TURKEY
° Correspondance

Summary:
Baker’s yeast was screened for its ability to metabolize drugs carrying a ketone group such as nabumetone and pentoxifylline.The corresponding alcohol metabolites were obtained as enantiomerically enriched mixtures with a yield of between 35-40% and 65-72% ee.In addition esters of these alcohols were prepared and lipase resolution was applied in order to obtain enantiomerically pure metabolites, and stereo chemistry of these metabolites were determined.

Keywords:
Nabumetone, pentoxifylline, metabolite, baker’s yeast, lipase, microbial reduction