2′-Chloroacetophenone undergoes stereoselective reduction to (R)-2′-chloro-1-phenyl-ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae B5. It is commonly used as lacrimator. 2′-Chloroacetophenone was employed as model substrate to investigate the enzymatic performance of Aspergillus terreus and Rhizopus oryzae in enantioselective bioreductions using glycerol as a co-solvent.