| Abstract: | The microbial transformations of 2,6‐ and 3,5‐dimethylcyclohexanone were investigated using the plant pathogenic fungus, Glomerella cingulata. With this organism 2,6‐ and 3,5‐dimethylcyclohexanone gave the corresponding 2,6‐ and 3,5‐dimethylcyclohexanol. The metabolites from 2,6‐dimethylcyclohexanone indicated enantioselective reduction by specific optical rotation of the products. The enantiomeric excesses of the microbiological reduction products were determined by 1H‐NMR spectra of (+)‐MTPA‐esters of the alcohols produced. The reduction of 2,6‐dimethylcyclohexanone was stereospecific, with the (2R,6R)‐ketone being converted to the corresponding (2R,6R)‐(?)‐2,6‐dimethylcyclohexanol; absolute configuration, 70% ee. On the other hand, 3,5‐dimethylcyclohexanone gave the (1α,3α,5α)‐3,5‐dimethylcyclohexanol (74%) and (1α,3β,5β)‐3,5‐dimethylcyclohexanol (26%). © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry |
