Microbiological conversion of a beta- and gamma-eudesmol mixture by Rhizopus

A mixture of beta- and gamma-eudesmols was microbiologically biotransformed by Rhizopus stolonifer ATCC 6227. Positions-2 and 3, in both substrates, proved to be accessible by hydroxylase enzyme. Four different metabolites were isolated and their structures were elucidated by different spectroscopic methods. The structures of these metabolites were established as eudesma-3-en-2 beta,11-diol; eudesma-4-en-3 beta,11-diol; eudesma-4(15)-en-2 beta,11-diol and eudesma-4(15)-en-3 beta,11-diol.