a process for preparing cis -- indanediol is disclosed . the process comprises fermenting a culture medium containing a yeast strain selected from the group consisting of trichosporon cutaneum my 1506 and mutants thereof and 1 , 2 - indanedione to form cis -- indanediol ; and recovering cis -- indanediol from the culture medium . a process for preparing - amino -- indanol from the recovered cis -- indanediol via the ritter reaction is also disclosed .