Oxidation of short-chain iso-alkanes by gaseous hydrocarbon assimilating mold, Scedosporium sp. A-4.

Oxidation of short-chain iso-alkanes (isobutane, isopentane, 2-methylpentane, and 3-methylpentane) was studied with propane-grown resting mycelia of Scedosporium sp. A-4. Isobutane was oxidized to terf-butanol, but both isobutane and tert-butanol were not used for growth. Isopentane was oxidized to 3-methyl-l-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, and 3-methyl-2-butanol but not to 2-methyl-l-butanol. 2-Methylpentane was oxidized to 4-methyl-l-pentanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, and 4-methyl-2-pentanol but not to 2-methyl-l-pentanol or 2-methyl-3-pentanol. 3-Methylpentane was not oxidized. Oxidation of branched alcohols was also studied.