cis-Dihydrodiol, arene oxide and phenol metabolites of dictamnine: key intermediates in the biodegradation and biosynthesis of furoquinoline alkaloids

Biotransformation of the parent furoquinoline alkaloid dictamnine and its 4-chlorofuroquinoline precursor, using the B8/36 bacterial mutant strain of Sphingomonas yanoikuyae, yielded, via biphenyl dioxygenase-catalysed dihydroxylation, the first isolable alkaloid cis-dihydrodiol metabolites; these metabolites were used in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of postulated arene oxide and phenol intermediates, and a range of derived furoquinoline alkaloids.