Benzil reductase ((R)-benzoin forming) explained

Benzil reductase ((R)-benzoin forming)
Ec Number:	1.1.1.321

Benzil reductase ((R)-benzoin forming) is an enzyme with systematic name (R)-benzoin:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase.^[1] This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction

(R)-benzoin + NADP⁺

\rightleftharpoons benzil + NADPH + H⁺

The bacterial enzyme (Xanthomonas oryzae) enantioselectively reduces one of the two carbonyl groups of benzil to form optically active (R)-benzoin.

Notes and References

1. Asymmetric reduction of benzil to benzoin catalyzed by the enzyme system of a microorganism . Konishi J, Ohta H, Tuchihashi G . Chem. Lett. . 1985 . 14 . 1111–1112 . 10.1246/cl.1985.1111.