Linalool Biotransformation with Fungi

Different fungal strains were screened for their ability to convert linalool into valuable flavour compounds. Aspergillus niger DSM 821, Botrytis cinerea 5901/02 and Botrytis cinerea 02/FBII/2.1 produced isomers of lilac aldehyde and lilac alcohol via 8hydroxylinalool as postulated intermediate. Linalool oxides and 8-hydroxylinalool accumulated as major products during fungal linalool biotransformations. Furanoid trans-(2R, 5S) and cis-(2S, 5R) linalool oxide as well as pyranoid trans-(2R, 5S) and cis-(2S, 5S) were identified as main stereoisomers, formed by epoxidation of (±)linalool via the postulated key intermediates (3S, 6S)-6,7-epoxylinalool and (3R, 6S)6,7-epoxylinalool. Corynespora cassiicola DSM 62475 was shown for the first time to stereospecifically produce 357 mg/L linalool oxides from linalool in just three days, corresponding to a productivity of 120 mg/L*d and a molar conversion yield close to 100 %.