Microbial asymmetric decarboxylation of fluorine-containing arylmalonic acid derivatives

α-Methyl-α-(trifluoromethylphenyl)malonic acids have been incubated with Alcaligenes bronchisepticus to afford optically active α-arylpropionic acids. Generally, the chemical and optical yields of the reaction products were higher when the substituents on the aromatic ring were strongly electron-withdrawing. Decarboxylation of α-fluoro-α- phenylmalonic acid with the aid of the same bacterium afforded optically active α-fluoro- α-phenylacetic acid.