Microbial ωoxylation oftrans-Nerolidol and Structurally Related Sesquiterpenoids

Trans-nerolidol and other related terpenoid compounds varying in configuration and chain length, cis-nerolidol, farnesol, and nerylacetone, were used as substrates in biotransformation reactions. These transformations afforded, among the various metabolites obtained, at least one ω-hydroxylated compound of each respective terpenoid. Aspergillus niger ATCC 9142 and Rhodococcus rubropertinctus DSM 43197, incubated with trans-nerolidol, both gave the 12-hydroxy-trans-nerolidol and the latter, in addition, was further oxidized to the 12-carboxylic acid of trans-nerolidol in fairly good yield.