The catalytic efficiencies of Candida tenuisxylose reductase catalysed reductions of mono- substituted acetophenones are in reasonable correlation with the σ-Hammett coefficients of the substituted phenyl groups. Variations of the substrate transformation rates are hence mainly caused by mesomeric and inductive effects of the substituents, while differences in substrate binding have a secondary relevance. Some substrate 1H NMR chemical shifts ...