Microbiological transformation of terpenes III. Transformations of some mono- and sesqui-terpenes

Abstract

The action of Aspergillus niger on mono- and sesqui-terpenic hydrocarbons, such as carane, 3-carene, α-santalene, and humulene was studied in shake cultures. Carane, Δ3-carene, and humulene proved to be rather resistant to oxygenation by the experimental strain of A. niger. Carene yielded a hydroxyketone, C₁₀H₁₄O₂, in poor yields after prolonged fermentation. The sesqui-terpene hydrocarbon, α-santalene, was degraded mainly to an acid, tere-santalic acid. Two hydroxylated products were also obtained from α-santalene, viz., tere-santalol and an alcohol, C₁₅H₂₄O.