Patchoulol microbial hydroxylation

A process for the production of the latter compound, via the microbial 10-hydroxylation of patchoulol (203) and subsequent oxidation of the 10-hydroxypatchoulol (204) was published [151]. From the 350 microorganisms screened, four strains of Pithomyces species carried out regio-selective hydroxylation of patchoulol to 10-hydroxypatchoulol Pithomyces sp. NRJ201 and P. chartarum NRJ210, isolated from soil situated in the neighbourhood of Kamakura, Japan, the most important ones. A method was developed by which 10-hydroxypatchoulol was obtained in 25 to 45% yields in 1- to 5-litre fermentation jars at 2 to 4 g of patchoulol per litre and isolated as pure material in 30% yields. The... 

---