Methyl (R)-2-chloromandelate, a key intermediate in the synthesis of clopidogrel, was obtained by the reduction of methyl-2-chlorobenzoylformate using whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A 100% conversion and 96.1% of enantiomeric excess (ee) value was obtained when 17 methyl-2-chlorobenzoylformate/l was reacted with 8 g S. cerevisiae/l and 83 g glucose/l at pH 7.