BIOTRANSFORMATION OF MONOTERPENOIDS, (-)- AND (+)-MENTHOLS, TERPINOLENE AND CARBOTANACETONE BY ASPERGILLUS SPECIES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0031-9422(91)83449-U

Four monoterpenoids, (-)- and (+)-menthols, terpinolene and carvotanacetone were biotransformed by Aspergillus niger and several related species.Aspergillus niger converted (-)-menthol to 1-, 2-, 6-, 7-, and 9-hydroxymenthols and the mosquito repellent-active 8-hydroxymenthol.On the other hand, (+)-menthol was smoothly biotransformed by A. niger to give 7-hydroxymenthol.Aspergillus cellulosae biotransformed (-)-menthol specifically to 4-hydroxymenthol.Terpinolene and (-)-carvotanacetone were converted by A. niger to two α,β-unsaturated ketones, a fenchane-type compound and diastereoisomeric p-menthane-2,9-diols and 8-hydroxycarvomenthol, respectively.Key Word Index: Aspergillus awamori; A. cellulosae; A. fumigatus; A. niger; A. sojae; A. terreus; A. usami; Aspergillaceae; biotransformation; (-)- and (+)-menthols; terpinolene; (-)-carvotanacetone; mosquito repellent.