Formation of hydroxylated steroid lactones from dehydroepiandrosterone by Spicaria fumoso-rosea F-881

The transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone by Spicaria fumoso-rosea VKM F-881 produced 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone, 3beta,7alpha-dihydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-androst-5-en-17-one, and 3beta,7beta-dihydroxy- 17a-oxa-D-homo-androst-5-en-17-one. The yield of the main product-3beta,7beta-dihydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-androst-5-en-17-one-was 49.5-72 mol % at substrate loadings of 5-20 g/L. Lactone formation proceeded through 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroxy derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone. The structure of the products was determined by mass spectrometry, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The proposed microbiological method for producing steroid lactones opens prospects for the syn- thesis of novel steroid compounds.