Lactones 32 : New aspects of the application of Fusarium strains to production of alkylsubstituted ɛ-lactones

Wild strains Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium avenaceum were chosen among six to the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of alkylsubstituted cyclohexanones (1a–e) to the corresponding highly enantiomerically enriched ɛ-lactones. Besides the oxidation activity, the biocatalysts were also able to the reduction of carbonyl group. Only cis-methylcyclohexanols turned out to be further transformed to lactones. Biotransformations of optically enriched ketones and alcohols were also studied to give an overall view of stereoselectivity of the enzymes involved in biocatalytic pathway.