REGIOSPECIFIC BIOTRANSFORMATION OF SUBSTITUTED NORBORNANONES BY MICROORGANISMS

The regiospecific biotransformation of (±) 5-acetoxy-7-fluoronorbornan-2-one into the equivalent bridgehead lactone of use as a source of substituted cyclopentane synthons containing four successive chiral centres has been demonstrated using washed-cell suspensions of cyclohexanol-grown Acinetobacter sp NCIB 9871. Conditions to optimise production of such 2-oxabicyclooctanones (substrate concentration<25mM, pH 7.35, 30°C) have been characterised. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.