Oxidative biotransformation of farnesol and 10,11-epoxyfarnesol by fungal strains

The biotransformation of farnesol (1), 10,11-epoxyfarnesol (2), geranylacetone (3) and 9,10-epoxygeranylacetone (4) was investigated using four strains of microorganisms selected in the screening procedure. The substrates were transformed by Fusarium culmorum, Botrytis cinerea, Rhodotorula rubra, Rhodotorula marina into oxyderivatives of geranylacetone. The biotransformation of farnesol after 2 days incubation with F. culmorum afforded mainly 8-hydroxygeranylacetone (5) and 9,10-epoxygeranylacetone (3) with high optical purities. The strains R. rubra, R. marina gave the 2,6-dimethyl-2,6-nonadien-1,9-diol (6) as the only product. B. cinerea transformed all substrates to 9,10-dihydroxygeranylacetone (7).