Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Vol.65, No.2, 171-175, 1996
Biological Enantioselective Reduction of Methylcyclohexanones by Glomerella-Cingulata
Biological reduction of alkylcyclohexanones by Glomerella cingulata was studied. With this organism regioisomeric 2-, 3- or 4-methylcyclohexanone gave the corresponding cis- and trans-methylcyclohexanols. The major metabolites of (+/-)-2- and (+/-)-3-methylcyclohexanone were cis-2- and cis-3-methylcyclohexanol. On the other hand, 4-methylcyclohexanone yielded mainly the trans-4-methylcyclohexanol. In addition, the metabolites from (+/-)-2- and (+/-)-3-methylcyclohexanone indicated enantioselective reduction by specific optical rotation of the products. The enantiomeric excesses of the microbiological reduction products were determined by NMR spectra of (+)-MTPA-esters of the alcohols produced. The reduction of (+/-)-2-methylcyclohexanone was stereospecific, with the (2R)-ketone being converted to the corresponding (+)-cis-2-methylcyclohexanol (1S-2R); absolute configuration, 92% e.e. On the other hand, the enantiomeric excess of the major metabolite of (+/-)-3-methylcyclohexanone was (-)-cis-3-methylcyclohexanol (1S-3R); absolute configuration, 33% e.e.