Abstract

Microbial transformation of β-caryophyllene (1) by suspended cell cultures of the plant pathogen fungus Aspergillus niger, resulted in the production of one major metabolite. This metabolite was identified as (3aR,11aS, E)-9-methyl-4-methylene-3a,4,7,10,11,11a-hexahydro-2H-furo[3,2- c]oxecine-2,6(3H)-dione (2), by different spectroscopic methods. Metabolite 2 was found to be a new compound. The proposed pathway for the synthesis of compound 2 was also explained.

Keywords: β-Caryophyllene, Aspergillus niger, fungal transformation, demethylation, oxidation, metabolite.