Biotransformation of (-)-alpha-pinene by Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

(-)-alpha-Pinene (1), a major constituent of many aromatic plants was biotransformed by the plant pathogenic fungus, Botrytis cinerea to afford three new metabolites, characterized as 3beta-hydroxy-(-)-beta-pinene (10%) (3), 9-hydroxy-(-)-alpha-pinene (12%) (4), 4beta-hydroxy-(-)-alpha-pinene-6-one (16%) (5) by physical and spectroscopic methods. A known metabolite verbenone (2) was also obtained.